No. 11 Maryland Men’s Soccer Falls 2-1 to No. 7 Washington Despite Late Rodrigo Neri Goal
By Brian Hradsky
Final Score: No. 7 Washington 2, No. 11 Maryland 1
SEATTLE — The No. 11 Maryland Terrapins men’s soccer team suffered a difficult 2-1 road loss to No. 7 Washington on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Husky Soccer Stadium. Despite outshooting the Huskies and mounting a second-half comeback, Maryland could not overcome a two-goal deficit in a nationally ranked Big Ten showdown. Rodrigo Neri scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season, but Washington goalkeeper Stockton Short made seven saves to preserve the victory. The loss dropped Maryland to 10-4-1 overall and 4-4-1 in Big Ten competition.
The matchup featured two nationally ranked programs battling for conference positioning as the regular season approached its conclusion. Maryland entered the contest following a 1-0 victory over Ohio State, while Washington presented another difficult test on the road. Head coach Sasho Cirovski’s Terrapins generated several quality scoring opportunities but struggled to convert their early pressure into goals. Washington capitalized on its opportunities and held off Maryland’s late offensive push.
Maryland Controls Early Possession but Washington Strikes First
Maryland established an aggressive offensive approach during the opening 45 minutes, finishing the first half with a 10-5 advantage in shots. The Terrapins consistently challenged Washington’s defense and forced Short into five first-half saves. Albi Ndrenika tested the Huskies goalkeeper in the 16th minute, while Neri created additional opportunities in the 23rd and 29th minutes. Despite Maryland’s statistical advantage, Washington delivered the opening goal.
Zach Ramsey broke the scoreless tie at the 30:16 mark, converting an opportunity assisted by Alex Hall. The goal gave Washington a 1-0 advantage despite Maryland’s greater offensive activity. Henry Bernstein and Rocket Ritarita continued applying pressure during the closing minutes of the half, but Short kept the Terrapins off the scoreboard. Maryland entered halftime trailing by one goal despite producing twice as many shots as Washington.
Washington Doubles Its Advantage in Second Half
Washington strengthened its position in the 58th minute when Jake Goetting scored his third goal of the season. Callum Lugton and Egor Akulov provided assists on the play, extending the Huskies’ lead to 2-0. The second goal forced Maryland to become even more aggressive offensively as the Terrapins searched for a comeback. Washington’s ability to capitalize on limited opportunities proved decisive against a Maryland team that continued generating chances.
Maryland goalkeeper Laurin Mack helped keep the Terrapins within striking distance throughout the second half. Mack finished with seven saves, including six after halftime, as Washington increased its attacking pressure. The veteran goalkeeper prevented the Huskies from extending their advantage during several dangerous sequences. His performance gave Maryland an opportunity to make the closing stages competitive.
Rodrigo Neri Sparks Maryland Comeback
Maryland finally broke through at the 70:30 mark when Neri scored his eighth goal of the 2026 season. Ndrenika and Bernstein combined to set up the scoring opportunity, cutting Washington’s advantage to 2-1 with nearly 20 minutes remaining. The goal reinforced Neri’s importance to Maryland’s attack and demonstrated the Terrapins’ ability to create opportunities against nationally ranked competition. Bernstein recorded his team-leading ninth assist, while Ndrenika collected his third.
The goal energized Maryland’s attack and placed Washington under pressure during the final stretch. Both goalkeepers produced important saves around the 80th minute as the contest remained competitive. Maryland continued searching for the equalizer, but Washington maintained its defensive organization and protected its narrow advantage. The Huskies ultimately secured the 2-1 victory despite Maryland finishing with more total shots.
Maryland Wins Shot Battle but Falls Short
The final statistics illustrated how closely the two nationally ranked programs competed. Maryland outshot Washington 19-15 and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Washington, however, produced nine shots on goal compared with Maryland’s eight, demonstrating greater efficiency in directing attempts toward the target. Both Mack and Short finished with seven saves.
Neri led Maryland with five shots and three attempts on goal, while Ndrenika registered six shots, including three on target. Bernstein contributed four shots and an assist, continuing his productive season in the Terrapins’ midfield. Dominic Ayella added two attempts as Maryland spread its offensive production across several players. Washington’s defense survived the pressure, with Short delivering a particularly important performance in goal.
What the Loss Means for Maryland
The defeat represented a missed opportunity for Maryland to earn a significant road victory over another nationally ranked Big Ten opponent. The Terrapins demonstrated that they could compete with Washington by generating more shots and maintaining offensive pressure throughout the match. However, their inability to convert early opportunities allowed the Huskies to establish a lead that ultimately proved too difficult to overcome. Maryland must improve its finishing as postseason competition approaches.
The loss also interrupted Maryland’s momentum following its victory over Ohio State on October 24. That result featured a goal from Ndrenika and another shutout performance from Mack, highlighting the team’s ability to win close conference matches. Against Washington, Maryland again created enough opportunities to remain competitive but could not produce the defensive shutout or offensive efficiency needed to win. The contrast between the two performances offers Cirovski several areas to address before the regular-season finale.
MSB Take: Maryland Must Finish Its Opportunities
Maryland Sports Blog believes the Terrapins showed enough offensive quality to compete with Washington, but the result exposed a recurring challenge against elite competition. Generating 19 shots against the nation’s seventh-ranked team is encouraging, especially on the road. However, Maryland converted just one of those attempts while Washington scored twice on 15 shots. At this stage of the season, creating opportunities is only part of the equation.
Neri continues to establish himself as Maryland’s primary scoring threat, while Bernstein’s nine assists demonstrate his importance as a playmaker. Ndrenika also contributed another strong attacking performance, creating chances and assisting on Maryland’s lone goal. The Terrapins have the offensive personnel to challenge quality opponents, but they need more consistent finishing from multiple positions. Depending too heavily on one scorer could become a significant concern during postseason play.
Mack’s seven-save performance deserves recognition despite the defeat. Washington created several dangerous chances, particularly during the second half, and Maryland’s goalkeeper prevented the contest from getting out of reach. His experience and ability to make difficult saves remain important assets for the Terrapins. Maryland must combine that goalkeeping stability with improved defensive positioning and more efficient scoring.
The encouraging takeaway is that Maryland did not surrender after falling behind by two goals. The Terrapins responded with Neri’s goal and continued pressing Washington until the final whistle. That resilience could become valuable during the Big Ten Tournament and a potential NCAA Tournament appearance. Nevertheless, moral victories will not replace results as Maryland enters the most important portion of its schedule.
What’s Next for Maryland?
Maryland returns to Ludwig Field in College Park on Wednesday, November 4, for its regular-season finale against Penn State. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m., with streaming coverage available on B1G+. The Terrapins will look to finish their conference schedule with a victory before turning their attention to postseason competition. A strong performance against Penn State would provide valuable momentum after the disappointing result in Seattle.
For Cirovski and Maryland, the objective remains clear: turn offensive opportunities into goals and deliver complete performances against quality competition. The Terrapins have demonstrated their ability to compete with nationally ranked opponents throughout the season. Their next challenge is converting that potential into victories when the stakes become even higher.
Maryland Sports Blog — Maryland Sports. All the Time.
www.marylandsportsblog.com
