COLLEGE PARK, MD. – Chanticleer newcomer Bryce Follensbee scored a pair of second-half goals, but they would not be enough as No. 17 Coastal Carolina fell to No. 2 Maryland 3-2 in front of 4,695 fans at the Terrapins’ famed Ludwig Field in a Labor Day evening match.

The Chanticleers (1-1-0) fell behind early in the first half, but battled back to knot the game at 1-all in the 59th minute on Follensbee’s first strike. Maryland (1-1-0) then used a pair of goals in a 12-minute stretch to extend its lead out to 3-1 with 17 minutes to play. Follensbee scored his second with 10:22 to play, but the Chants would ultimately not find the equalizer in the waning moments.

The teams battled in the midfield for the opening five minutes of the game before Maryland’s Dan Metzger notched the opened the scoring in the eighth minute of play. Metzger headed home a Mael Corboz corner kick following a quick spell of Terrapin possession in the Chanticleer defensive third.

The Chanticleers and Terps settled in after the goal with the ball returning back to the midfield for several minutes. The sides then quickened the pace and exchanged counter attacking opportunities with each team finding space in the offensive third. The Chants then took control of the possession battle and created several opportunities, but the Maryland defense Coastal finished the half with a 3-2 advantage in shots, while the Terps held a 3-1 edge in corner opportunities.

Coastal opened the second half on the attack, earning two quick shot attempts in the first eight minutes of play. The Chants broke through on the scoreboard in the 59th minute as Follensbee headed home an Elis Bjornsson free kick. A Maryland foul set Bjornsson up with a free kick from the left side 30-yards from the goal. Bjornsson launched an arcing ball into the box that was headed inside the far post by Follensbee. The goal was Tulsa transfer’s first as a Chanticleer and 13th of his collegiate career.

Less than four minutes later Maryland regained the lead as Michael Sauers beat Coastal’s Devin Cook-Perales to the right upper 90 with a blast from 30-yards out. The goal, which settled into the back of the net at the 61:50 mark, was Sauers first of the season.

Mikias Eticha made the score 3-1 in the home-standing Terps’ favor in the 73rd minute with an awkward shot from the top of the 18 that deflected off a Chanticleer and inside the left post. 

Follensbee pulled the Chants back to a one-goal deficit in with 10:22 to play as he found his second goal of the night. Follensbee buried a Sergio Camargo through ball from the right side past Maryland’s diving Zack Steffen. The multi-goal game marked the second of Follensbee’s collegiate career and the first by a Chant since Camargo scored twice against Winthrop on Nov. 12, 2013.

Coastal finished the game with 13 shots, including five on goal, while Maryland registered 10 shots and five on goal. The Chants also out-cornered the Terps by a 5-3 margin.

The Chanticleers continue their grueling three-game opening road stretch at No. 23 Charlotte on Friday. The Chanticleers and 49ers met twice last season with each team claiming the victory as visitors. Charlotte beat Coastal in the third game of the regular season last year, but the Chants got their revenge by knocking the 49ers from the NCAA Tournament in the second round.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Hornets Add 7 on National Signing Day