Creighton University
Maryland
Maryland Ends Men's Soccer Season
12/6/2008 12:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Third-ranked and second-seeded Maryland ended the Creighton men's soccer season Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, topping the second-ranked and seventh-seeded Bluejays 1-0 at Ludwig Field. A first-half goal held up for the Terrapins (21-3-0), as they advance to the College Cup and CU's season ends with a 16-2-2 record.
Creighton came out of the gates looking to attack, setting the tone with the first two shots of the match. Seth Sinovic's low drive was blocked and Jeff Thayer put a shot on goal in the game's first eight minutes. From there, the Terps established themselves and launched the next 11 shots in the half, to out-shoot the Jays 11-2 in the opening 45 minutes.
Maryland's lone goal of the match was set up on a questionable foul outside of the 18-yard box. Michael Marchiano sent the free kick into the box where Rodney Wallace connected on a header for his third goal of the season and what proved to be the game's lone tally.
Despite the 1-0 edge, the Terrapins continued an offensive onslaught in the second half, controlling possession and out-shooting the Jays 6-3 after the half.
CU's best chance to score came on a counter attack in the 49th minute. After CU goalkeeper Brian Holt stopped a rocket shot off the foot of Hermann Trophy semifinalist Omar Gonzalez, junior Byron Dacy went the length of the field and unloaded a shot to the far post. His shot got by the Maryland keeper Zac MacMath, but went just outside the post.
Thayer chipped a shot on goal in the 59th minute, but that was CU's final shot in the match.
Maryland, which has now won 14 straight matches, finished with a 17-5 edge in shots and a 15-1 lead in corner kicks. Both stats by the Terps were the most allowed by the Bluejay defense all season.
Holt had to stop six shots on goal in the match, while his play coming off of his line and out of the box was outstanding in net for the Jays.
Creighton's 15-match unbeaten streak (13-0-2) came to an end, with their first loss since Sept. 13. CU's season ends with a 16-2-2 record in their 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament.
NOTES: The careers of Bluejay seniors Andrei Gotsmanov, Seth Sinovic and Tim Walters came to an end in the loss ... The loss snapped CU's 15-match unbeaten streak away from Omaha, as CU had been 12-0-3 away from home since the start of the 2007 season. The defeat was CU's first road loss since Nov. 10, 2006 at Washington in the NCAA Tournament ... CU appeared in the NCAA quarterfinals for the seventh time, the fourth time since 2002 and the first since 2005 ... CU is now 1-2-1 against UMD all-time, including 0-2-1 in the NCAA postseason. The Terps have ended CU's season in 1998, 2004 and 2008 ... CU has had its season come to an end at Ludwig Field three times since 2003, as CU lost to St. John's in College Park in 2003 and fell to UMD in 2004 and 2008 ... Creighton's two losses this season are the second-fewest by a Bluejay team in school history, trailing only the 19-1-0 1993 team ... The Jays are 22-16-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 14-7-3 on the road ... CU finished the season 4-1-1 against top-25 teams ... As a team, Creighton posted a 0.48 goals against average, just shy of the school record of 0.47 established in 1999 ... CU's previous opponent season-high in shots was 15 (at No. 6 California) ... CU's previous opponent season-high in corner kicks was 11 (at No. 11 Saint Louis) ... Light snow began falling in College Park for the final 20 minutes of play.
