Top-ranked Maryland escapes with 3-2 win over College of Charleston

MOUNT PLEASANT — The top-ranked Maryland Terrapins left the Lowcountry with a win, but just barely.

Landon Woodberry scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 84th minute, as the No. 1-ranked Terrapins escaped with a 3-2 win over the College of Charleston in men’s soccer Saturday night before a capacity crowd of 2,230 fans at Patriots Point.

The Cougars (4-6-0) led two times during the match, including a 2-1 advantage at halftime. But the Terrapins (8-0-1) rallied for two second-half goals to win.

“I’m real proud of my players, they stepped up tonight,” said Cougars coach Ralph Lundy. “We felt confident. The boys still feel confident. We knew we could play with them. I’ve got a good team and we showed it.”

Sean de Silva and Francis Twohig each scored in the first half for the Cougars.

“It was a great game,” Lundy said. “What a great place this is and what a great crowd it was. It was tremendous. We want to win those games though. I’m not taking satisfaction from playing them tough. I want to beat Maryland and I want to beat them all.”

The Cougars scored first in the 19th minute when Sam Redmond played a through ball to Luke Huggett at the top-right corner of the box. Huggett centered the ball for de Silva who drove the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

In the 33rd minute, Maryland’s Tsubasa Endoh sent in a corner kick and Woodberry got his head to it and sent the ball into the far-side of the goal to tie the match at 1-1. 

Twohig tied the match just before halftime. He collected a misplayed clearance in the box and as Maryland goalkeeper Keith Cardona charged him, he chipped the ball over his head and into the back of the net to put Cougars up, 2-1, in the 43rd minute.

Maryland tied the match for the second time in the 66th minute when Taylor Kemp sent a ball into the box from the left side and David Kabelik redirected it into the net with his header.

The decisive goal came in the 84th minute and once again on a set-piece header. Kemp again stood over the ball and sent it across the goal mouth and Woodberry slid the ball into a sliver of space between the post and Cougars keeper Kees Heemskerk.