NEWTON, Mass. – Boston College junior midfielder Conor Fitzpatrick connected on a penalty kick in the 19th minute and Maryland senior Billy Cortes scored the equalizer in the 60th minute as the fifth-ranked Eagles and the ninth-ranked Terrapins played to a 1-1 draw in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams before a capacity crowd of 2,000 fans at the Newton Campus Field.

 

Fitzpatrick lifted the host Eagles to an early one-goal lead following a Maryland hand ball in the 18-yard box at 18:30.

 

The penalty kick was awarded shortly after Maryland goalkeeper Zac MacMath made perhaps his best save of the night, diving to his right to deflect Colin Murphy’s hard volley toward the top left corner in the 16th minute.

 

Cortes netted the tying score with a header off a Doug Rodkey cross at 59:47, before both teams enjoyed numerous scoring opportunities in regulation and overtime.

 

The Eagles possessed several prime chances in a first sudden-victory period, highlighted by Charlie Rugg’s right-footed shot that beat MacMath and hit the crossbar coming straight down in front of the goal line in the 95th minute.

 

Kyle Bekker nearly broke the tie with a left-footed strike in the 94th minute and nearly set up a decisive tally in the 97th minute.

 

Bekker led all BC players with five shots in the game.  Amit Aburmad and Karl Reddick each tallied three shots.

 

BC registered a 7-5 combined shot advantage in the overtime periods and totaled a 19-14 edge in the game.

 

MacMath registered six saves in the Terps net, while Boston College’s Justin Luthy stopped five shots.

 

Next, Boston College will travel to Fairfield on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

 

Team Records: Maryland – 1-1-1; 0-0-1 ACC; Boston College – 2-0-1; 0-0-1 ACC

 

Game Notes: Reddick and defender Kevin Mejia each registered their first starts of the season … BC totaled a 10-3 edge in corner kicks in the contest, including 4-0 advantages in the final 10-minute overtime period as well as in the first half of play … The Eagles and Terps played to a draw for the first time in nine meetings as conference opponents … Maryland’s trip to Boston College was its first since Sept. 15, 2007.