No. 14 Maryland Men’s Soccer Edges Michigan 3-2 Behind Dramatic Late Own Goal
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 19, 2026
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 14 Maryland defeated Michigan 3-2 on Friday, October 16, at U-M Soccer Stadium, using a dramatic 85th-minute own goal to secure an important Big Ten Conference road victory. The Terrapins surrendered two separate leads before finding the winning goal just 40 seconds after Michigan tied the contest late in the second half. The victory improved Maryland to 8-3-1 overall and 3-3-1 in Big Ten play, strengthening its position in the conference tournament race.
Maryland entered the matchup looking to rebound from a 2-1 loss against Michigan State on October 9. Head coach Sasho Cirovski’s squad had experienced an inconsistent stretch of conference play, making the road contest particularly important. Michigan entered with a 3-5-4 overall record but proved difficult to put away throughout the evening. The Wolverines repeatedly answered Maryland’s offensive pressure before a costly defensive mistake ultimately decided the contest.
Bernstein Gives Maryland an Early Advantage
The Terrapins wasted little time finding the scoreboard despite Michigan generating several early scoring opportunities. Henry Bernstein opened the scoring in the eighth minute, converting a well-placed opportunity after Franklin Affanyi delivered a long pass into the attacking third. Maxwell Sekyi also received an assist on the play, helping Bernstein register his second goal of the season. The early strike gave Maryland a 1-0 advantage and temporarily shifted momentum toward the visitors.
Michigan continued attacking and eventually broke through in the 33rd minute when Grayson Elmquist scored his fifth goal of the season. Wolverines goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson initiated the scoring opportunity with a long clearance that found Elmquist behind Maryland’s defensive line. Elmquist capitalized on the opening and beat Terrapins goalkeeper Laurin Mack to even the contest at one goal apiece. The teams entered halftime tied 1-1 despite Michigan holding a 10-5 advantage in first-half shots.
Popovic Delivers a Spectacular Second-Half Goal
Maryland increased its offensive pressure after halftime, creating several dangerous opportunities while attempting to regain control. The Terrapins generated 11 second-half shots and repeatedly tested Goldson, who made several important saves to keep Michigan competitive. Albi Ndrenika nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful attempt from outside the penalty area, but his shot struck the post. Maryland continued pressing until Ljubomir Popovic produced one of the most memorable moments of the match.
In the 74th minute, Popovic delivered a corner kick that curled directly into the Michigan goal, giving Maryland a 2-1 lead. The remarkable finish, commonly called an Olympico, marked Popovic’s first goal as a Terrapin and rewarded Maryland’s persistent second-half attack. Goldson attempted to stop the curling delivery, but the ball traveled into the net after striking the back post. The goal appeared capable of securing all three points until Michigan mounted another late response.
Late Own Goal Secures Maryland Victory
Michigan refused to surrender and found another equalizer in the 85th minute when Guy Michaeli scored his first goal of the season. Thomas Fraser and Joao Paulo Ramos assisted on the scoring play, which tied the contest 2-2 with fewer than six minutes remaining. The Wolverines appeared positioned to earn a valuable conference draw after battling back for the second time. However, Maryland responded almost immediately with an attacking sequence that changed the outcome.
Just 40 seconds after Michigan’s equalizer, Maryland pushed forward and created another dangerous opportunity from the wing. Dominic Ayella sent a cross toward the goal area, where a Michigan defender mishandled the delivery and redirected the ball into his own net. Officials credited the decisive score as an own goal at 84:47, restoring Maryland’s lead at 3-2. The Terrapins protected that advantage through the final minutes to escape Ann Arbor with a critical conference victory.
Maryland’s Offensive Pressure Makes the Difference
Maryland finished with 16 shots, including 10 on goal, while Michigan recorded 14 shots and six attempts on target, according to the official Big Ten box score. Mack finished with four saves, providing important stability when the Wolverines threatened Maryland’s defense. Goldson also delivered a strong performance for Michigan, repeatedly turning away dangerous opportunities before the late own goal. The Terrapins’ improved second-half attacking performance ultimately helped overcome their defensive difficulties.
Sekyi provided another encouraging development for Maryland, making his first start of the season and playing the entire 90 minutes. His contribution to Bernstein’s opening goal highlighted his ability to help Maryland offensively while handling defensive responsibilities. The return of midfielder Leon Koehl also gave the Terrapins another experienced presence as the team continues navigating its conference schedule. Those contributions could prove valuable as Maryland prepares for its remaining regular-season contests.
What’s Next for Maryland?
Maryland returns home Tuesday, October 20, to face St. John’s at Ludwig Field in College Park, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Terrapins then resume Big Ten competition against Ohio State on October 24 before traveling to Washington on October 30. Maryland closes its regular-season conference schedule against Penn State on November 4. With postseason positioning still at stake, the Terrapins will look to build on their dramatic victory over Michigan.
MSB Take
Maryland’s victory over Michigan demonstrated both the resilience and defensive concerns surrounding this Terrapins team. Scoring three times on the road against a Big Ten opponent is encouraging, particularly with Bernstein and Popovic contributing important goals. However, surrendering two separate leads remains concerning for a program hoping to make a serious postseason run. Maryland must improve its defensive organization and ability to protect advantages against stronger opponents.
The biggest positive was Maryland’s immediate response after Michigan tied the game late in the second half. Rather than settling for another conference draw, the Terrapins attacked aggressively and forced the mistake that produced the winning goal. That mentality could become extremely valuable as the regular season approaches its conclusion and every conference point carries greater importance. If Maryland can combine its offensive creativity with more consistent defending, Cirovski’s squad has the potential to become a dangerous postseason opponent.
Research sources: Maryland Athletics official recap, Big Ten official box score and Michigan Athletics recap.
