Crognale scored on a scramble in the box in the fifth minute and on a header in the 20th as the Big Ten front-runners (13-0-2) remained perfect at home (10-0-0). Meshack Eshun Addy halved the deficit in the 84th minute for the Pride (8-6-1), the Colonial Athletic Association leader which had a 10-6 advantage in shots and 3-0 on corner kicks.

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“We made the plays in the first half to give us a cushion and we knew the second half would be difficult,” Terps Coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We were pushed back and forced to defend and we absorbed some pressure and made some plays.”

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Before the recent haul of goals, Crognale scored early-season equalizers on the road against UCLA and Indiana. After the Wisconsin goals, he received Big Ten offensive player of the week honors.

With his size and scoring prowess, Crognale is enjoying a final college campaign similar to D.C. United center back Steve Birnbaum’s at California-Berkeley in 2013 (10 goals).

The Terrapins are two games from completing their first undefeated regular season since 1968. They’ll host Delaware on Tuesday and visit Michigan next Sunday. They’ve already clinched the top seed in the Big Ten tournament and will host a quarterfinal on Nov. 6. The semifinals and final will take place at Grand Park in suburban Indianapolis Nov. 11-13.

Elsewhere, No. 16 Virginia (8-2-5) settled for a 0-0 draw at two-win Pittsburgh in extending its unbeaten streak to eight.