If you arrived at the Maryland-UCLA soccer showdown Friday night with 23 minutes left in the opening half - as I did - you are still waiting to see UCLA score. If you arrived at the Maryland-California game Sunday night at halftime, you might think the two teams from opposite coasts were evenly matched.
After 22 minutes of back and forth with UCLA, Maryland's offense clicked. It was as if a different game had begun. Suddenly, UCLA was jammed back against its goal, having trouble clearing and having trouble containing Maryland's very young and very quick front line. The Bruins, and their talented keeper, Juan Cervantes, limited the swarming Terps to a single goal over almost 70 minutes, even though Maryland outshot the Bruins 22-9. That goal came on a penalty kick by Maryland's leading scorer, John Stertzer. But the penalty kick resulted when a desperate Bruin interior defense took down Maryland freshman Tshumo Schillo. Schillo and his freshman classmates were way too quick and fast for UClA. On the play resulting in the penalty kick, Schillo and at least two other Terps were streaking through the box in front of Cervantes while another Terp prepared a close-in cross. The take-down saved the goal, if only for a minute. Except for some semi-serious forays late in the second overtime, UCLA never exhibited much offense after the two early goals. They were constantly bottled up in their own end trying to stop Maryland's extremely explosive front line.
Sunday night was another mismatch, but the Bears kept it close for a half. Then Maryland exploded for five second half goals en route to a stunning 6-0 blow out. Jordan Cyrus, who has seen his minutes diminish as the freshman arrived then thrived, scored two goals to pace the Terps, ranked sixth and undefeated at 2-0-1. Patrick Mullins had a goal and two assists, Freshman Tsubasa Endoh had a goal and an assist, and Stertzer and Schillo also scored. It was Stertzer's goal in the opening half that put Maryland ahead to stay.
The Terps play their first regular season road game this Friday when they open their ACC schedule at powerful Boston College.
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