No. 1 Maryland Slips Past Virginia, 1-0

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Oct. 5, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Virginia men’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to top-ranked Maryland Friday evening in front of 4,846 spectators at Ludwig Field in College Park, Md. Virginia goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) was strong in goal and tied a season best with six saves, including four in the second half to keep the Cavaliers (5-5-1, 1-3-0 ACC) close.

“Tonight we fought really hard, and I have no problem with their effort,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We need to get ready for the next one. We have the toughest schedule in the country, hands down, and we just need to take it one game at a time. We have six games left, and we have to go from there.”

Maryland (9-0-1, 4-0-0) scored the match’s lone goal in the 26th minute. After the Terrapins quickly played the ball forward, Schillo Tshuma flipped a great through-ball past the Cavaliers’ defense and found Patrick Mullins, who moved just inside the box and then buried the shot.

While Virginia did not record an official shot on goal in the match, the Cavaliers still had their share of scoring opportunities. UVa had a great chance in the 62nd minute; following a Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) corner kick toward the back post, Marcus Salandy-Defour (Fr., Kensington, Md.) put a head on the ball, and it caromed to Darius Madison (Fr., Philadelphia, Pa.), who headed it toward an open half of the net, but the shot sailed over the crossbar.

Maryland, which leads the nation in scoring at 3.3 per game, was limited to its fewest goals in a game this season. The Terps out-shot Virginia, 17-4, and took four corner kicks, compared to two for the Cavaliers. UVa committed 16 fouls, while Maryland was called for 14.

Virginia plays its next four matches at home. The Cavaliers’ tough schedule continues at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they take on unbeaten and 23rd-ranked High Point (9-0-1) at Klöckner Stadium. No. 15 Wake Forest visits Charlottesville next Friday (Oct. 12) for an ACC match.

Four of Virginia’s five losses this year have come to teams currently ranked in the top 10, while eight of the Cavaliers’ contests have been played against teams which have been ranked at some point this year.