No. 5 Virginia Falls To No. 3 Maryland, 2-0

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The fifth-ranked Virginia men’s soccer team fell to No. 3 Maryland 2-0, Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. The Terrapins scored their first goal a minute-and-a-half into the match and added an early second-half goal to seal the victory.

“When you get hit like that early on, it really disrupts you and uplifts the other team,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch said. “Give Maryland credit, they get around the ball very well and are very athletic. When they got a goal lead, and then a two-goal lead, it was tough to deal with.”

With the loss, Virginia’s record went to 9-3-3 overall and 2-3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Maryland won its eighth-consecutive match and improved its overall record to 12-2-1 (6-1-1 ACC).

About a minute into the match, Maryland earned a corner kick on the left side of the field. Kassel served the ball in front of the goal and Townsend was able to one-time the mis-cleared ball toward the goal. His teammate Jason Herrick redirected the shot into the back of the net for the goal.

Junior Cavalier forward Brian Ownby (Glen Allen, Va.) had UVa’s best scoring chance of the first half in the 25th minute when he dribbled past the Maryland defense and shot at point-blank range with his left foot. His shot trickled just wide of the goal line and Maryland held onto its 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Maryland earned a free kick in the 48th minute after a UVa foul on the right side of the penalty box. Kassel’s free kick found John Stertzer’s head and Stertzer put away the shot into the upper right corner of the goal. It was his first goal of the season and Kassel’s team-high ninth assist.

Ownby, along with sophomore forward Will Bates (Chester, Va.) tried to rally the UVa offense and although they combined for seven shots only two were on goal.

Zac MacMath posted the shutout for Maryland with three saves, his ninth of the year.

UVa goalkeeper Diego Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) had three saves in defeat.

Both teams recorded 10 shots and Virginia held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Prior to tonight’s match, Virginia had not given up two goals at home since a 2-0 loss to Connecticut in the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 25, 2008.

Virginia will host Campbell on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. The senior class will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

No. 3 Maryland 2, No 5 Virginia 0
#3 Maryland (12-2-1, 6-1-1 ACC) 1 1 – 2
#5 Virginia (9-3-3, 2-3-2 ACC) 0 0 – 0

Scoring Summary:
Md. Herrick 7 (Townsend) 2′
Md. Stertzer 1 (Kassel) 48′

Shots: Md. 10, UVa 10
Corners: UVa 6, Md. 3
Saves: UVa 3 (Restrepo 3), Md. 3 (MacMath 3)
Fouls: UVa 13, Md. 13
Offsides: Md. 1, UVa 0

Attendance: 3,944