Mountaineers Welcome No. 6 Maryland
October 21, 2008 08:03 AM | General
By Ira Green for MSNsportsNET.com
October 20, 2008
Game Notes
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On only the second Tuesday contest of the season, the West Virginia University men’s soccer team welcomes No. 6/6 Maryland to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium for the final non-conference match of the season. The game, which will be televised by WVPBS, is scheduled for 8 p.m.
WVU (4-5-5, 2-2-4 BIG EAST) posted a 1-0-1 record last week. The Mountaineers knocked off No. 22 Ohio State on Oct. 15, 1-0, courtesy of a goal by freshman Alex Silva. Three days later, on Oct. 18, WVU played Seton Hall to a 1-1 double-overtime tie. Freshman Adam Mills scored the go-ahead goal, but the Pirates answered back with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
Offensively, Silva, Mills and sophomore Paul Paradise lead WVU with two goals apiece. Paradise leads the team in assists (3), points (7), and shots (28).
In goal, sophomore Zach Johnson has been a major part of the team’s success. The Lumberton, N.J., native has allowed only eight goals in 1,364 minutes between the posts. Johnson has also made 70 saves, owns a 0.56 goals-against average, and has seven clean sheets this season.
Maryland (11-3-0, 3-2-0 ACC) is led by Head Coach Sasho Cirovski. In his 16th year, Cirovski owns a 224-102-20 record with the Terrapins.
The Terrapins, who are riding a four-game winning streak, recently defeated Lehigh, 2-1 in overtime, on Oct. 14. Casey Townsend scored the game-winning goal for Maryland. On Oct. 17, Maryland posted a 4-0 home victory against Evansville. Townsend and Jeremy Hall each had two goals apiece in the win.
A powerful offensive team, Maryland has lit up the scoreboard 33 times, including four four-goal performances this season. Townsend, who has a team-leading 10 goals, also leads the team in points (22) and shots (42). Hall is not far behind with nine goals and 21 points. Nine other players on the team have scored at least once this year.
Zac MacMath and Will Swaim have split time between the posts this season. MacMath, who has eight starts, has allowed just five goals, while making 18 saves and registering four shutouts. Swaim has given up nine goals in six starts while recording three clean sheets.
WVU and Maryland have faced each other two times prior to Tuesday, with the Mountaineers owning a 2-0 all-time advantage. Sept. 7, 2007 was the last time the two teams met as WVU came away with a 1-0 victory in College Park.
