The Terrapins spoiled IU’s Homecoming weekend as they dropped the Hoosiers 2-1, giving IU its second loss of the ?season.
Maryland got out to a two-goal lead early in the second half after Alex Crognale drilled a header into the net in the 52nd minute. The tallest player on the field at 6 feet 5 inches, Crognale was able to out-jump the IU defense.
“The way we reacted was really good after giving up that second goal,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said.
The Terrapins’ (7-5-2, 3-2-1) first goal came in the 20th minute when forward Alex Shinsky dribbled down the left side of the field and was given enough space by IU sophomore defender Derek Creviston to get off a shot with his left foot and put it by IU sophomore goalie Colin Webb.
It was a very physical game that saw four yellow cards.
“We had to increase our aggressive play,” IU junior midfielder Femi Hollinger-Janzen said. “Their pressure was very good, and I feel like it affected us a little bit, but we have to learn from that.”
IU got its lone goal in the 73rd minute on a header by Hollinger-Janzen, who leapt through the air over everyone to knock the ball into the net. It came on a cross by freshman defender Jack Griffith from the right side of the field.
“Our whole team had to pick it up in the second half,” Hollinger-Janzen said. “We were down two goals there, and we had to find a way to come back in the game.”
The goal was Hollinger-Janzen’s fourth of the season.
“In the first half (Femi) was very dangerous, and late in the last 20 minutes, he was very good,” Yeagley said. “Good day for Femi. He was one of our more consistent attackers today.”
The loss is not only the team’s second overall but is the second in conference play.
“It’s a tough loss,” Hollinger-Janzen said. “But we have one Wednesday. It’s a big game again on Wednesday, so we’ll bounce back and get that one.”
The loss means IU does not have control of its destiny in the standings and is currently seventh in conference with seven points.
“It was a pretty down locker room,” Yeagley said. “They knew this was an important Big Ten game for us to stay in the hunt. This will make it more difficult.”
Yeagley also said putting losses like this behind them is important with such a young team.
Maryland started the season projected to win the Big Ten and was ranked in the top five in national polls but started the season slowly.
“This is a really good Maryland team,” Yeagley said. “You’re not going to get tons of good looks. We have to execute against a team like this.”
Both Yeagley and his ?players seemed anxious to get back on the field Wednesday when they take on Notre Dame.
“We have to keep our heads level and always just keep going,” Hollinger-Janzen said. “Can’t look down, especially when you’re playing a good team.”
Maryland outshot IU 12-11 and also had more shots on goal 6-3. Webb was forced to make some big saves in the second half to keep the Hoosiers in the game.
“I don’t think we had our best performance today,” Webb said. “Give credit to them, because they probably pressured us with the most intensity out of everyone we’ve played so far. A couple of us had off days, and if we get a chance to play them again, I think we’ll get a better result.”
IU’s last loss came against Penn State on Sept. 13.
“We did a lot of good things considering it wasn’t an ‘A’ day for our team and some individuals,” Yeagley said.
