Creighton University
Maryland
Maryland Ends Men's Soccer Season in Shootout
11/28/2004 2:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. Following 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, seventh-ranked Maryland and 16th-ranked Creighton had their destiny determined in penalty kicks Sunday afternoon in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins prevailed 5-4 in a shootout, ending another successful NCAA Tournament run for the Bluejays (14-4-2).
The game is officially recorded as a 0-0 draw, but there was plenty of action from both teams in CU's final match of the season. The No. 3-seeded Terrapins (16-5-2) controlled the first half and out-shot the 14th-seeded Bluejays 9-3 in the first 45 minutes of play. Bluejay goalkeeper Matt Allen was up for the task of shutting down the third-ranked offense in the NCAA. The rookie from Omaha Burke stopped three shots in the first half, including a point-blank attempt in the first 10 minutes.
Creighton's attack proved more potent in the second half, as both the Jays and Terps managed five shots over the half. Allen made two more saves in the second half and Maryland's keeper, Noah Palmer, equalled Allen's two stops.
The Terps managed the only three shots during the two scoreless 10 minute overtime periods, to conclude the match with a 17-8 shot advantage.
After not playing any overtime matches in the regular season, CU found itself in its second shootout over its last three contests. The Terps made their first attempt, while Jarod Tarver missed high on CU's first PK in the shootout.
Allen saved the next Maryland shot and Kama Bennah pulled CU even with a converted attempt. Both teams did not convert in the third round, while the next three rounds for each proved successful, with Julian Nash, Brian Biggerstaff and Matt Wieland all converting for the Jays.
The seventh round proved to be decisive. The Terps converted, but CU's missed attempt gave Maryland the 5-4 victory, advancing them to the quarterfinals to face St. John's.
Allen finished the match with six saves in his second shutout of the season. He lowered his goals against average to 0.69 and finished with a team-leading 45 saves in nine matches as a freshman.
The match concludes the careers of seniors Kama Bennah, Andrew Brown, Julian Nash and Brett Rodriguez. The Jays went 55-23-9 over the last four seasons and advanced to the College Cup in 2002, while extending their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 13 this season.
CU is now 16-12-3 all time in the NCAA Tournament, with Sunday's match serving as the first time CU has ever lost in penalty kicks in the NCAAs.
