BALTIMORE, Maryland March 30, 2016 - The United States National Soccer Team exploded for 4 goals - really 5 - and routed Guatemala, 4-0, to regain control of its own destiny in its drive to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Clint Dempsey scored only 12 minutes from the opening kickoff - and in typical Dempsey style - and the USA never looked back. Then, in the 35th minute, Geoff Cameron also scored for the United States to double their lead to 2-0. That was the lead the USA took into the half. In reality, Guatemala never came that close to scoring. Its best chances lacked a solid finish. Its leading scorer, Carlos Ruiz, didn't enter the game until halftime after arriving in Columbus too close to match-time to start.
In basketball, Valparaiso built up a 16-point second half lead then held off charging BYU to defeat the Cougars, 72-70. The Crusaders - denied a berth in the NCAA Tournament by a boneheaded NCAA Selection Committee - is now a mind-boggling 30-6 on the season. Valparaiso will play upstart George Washington in the NIT Title Game Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Colonials defeated San Diego State to advance to the title game. For the first time in ages, the argument can be made that the best college team in the country is playing for the NIT Championship and not the NCAA Championship.
USA Soccer Coach Jurgen Klinsmann made five line-up changes and moved two other starters to positions they are more comfortable in after losing to Guatemala, 2-0, last Friday night in Guatemala City. The most significant change was the decision to recall and start Graham Zusi, the former University of Maryland star, who played a huge role on the USA's 2014 World Cup Team. Zusi shared taking set piece kicks with Team Captain Michael Bradley and generally energized the USA offense. He also scored what proved to be a decisive goal immediately after halftime to put the USA up, 3-0, and end whatever hope Guatemala had of mounting a comeback. Late in the match, Jozy Altidore scored a fourth USA goal to provide the final margin of 4-0. Another USA score was taken off the scoreboard when the linesman wrongly ruled that the scorer, substitute Ethan Finlay, was offsides. Replays showed Finlay wasn't even close to being offsides.
Dempsey's opening goal in just the 12th minute of play seemed like it lifted a huge weight from the USA's shoulders. The loss on Friday at Guatemala City had put Klinsmann's squad in extreme danger of not qualifying for the World Cup that is still two years off. A win was essential to put the USA back on track for qualification, as a tie would not have reversed the significant damage of Friday's loss. On the play, Cameron ran onto a ball in the middle of the field just inside the midfield line, and sent a precise pass to Gyasi Zardes, also in the middle and moving past the 18 line toward the net. Zardes was closely marked by two Guatemalan defenders, but Cameron's ball deflected off of Zardes' upper arm and shoulder and rolled free in the box. Dempsey was running at the goal from behind the play and arrived in the box just as the ball came free from Cameron's deflected pass. He rifled a shot that Guatemalan keeper Paulo Motta had no chance on. Motta, in truth, really never made any kind of effort to block. Dempsey, always intense, was visibly thrilled by the play as his teammates crowded around him to celebrate. The capacity crowd of over 20,000 in Columbus also cheered wildly. The USA remained on the attack throughout the first half and Cameron's score about 22 minutes later was no surprise. It came on a free kick by Bradley, which he sent across the mouth of the goal. Cameron ran onto the kick and headed it strongly past Motta, who again had no chance to block it. Both of these scores and the other two American scores may be viewed at the USASoccer web page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA05L8b0Rq0&feature=youtu.be.
In winning, the USA moved into second place in their Group. Providing they can hold onto this position, the USA team will qualify for the fifth and final round of World Cup Qualifying for the 2018 games, scheduled for Russia. At present, Trinidad and Tobago - victorious last night against last place St. Vincent - Grenadine - is in first place with 10 points. The United States is in second place with 7 points. Guatemala is third with 6 points and St. Vincent is last with 0 points. Each team has two games remaining, both in early September. The USA will visit St. Vincent on September 2 and host Trinidad on September 6. The USA will be heavily favored in both matches, having already routed St. Vincent, 6-1, in St. Louis, and tied Trinidad in Trinidad. If the USA does win both matches, it will advance no matter what the other teams in the group do.
In the NIT, Valparaiso built up a 14 point halftime lead, expanded it to 16 points after the half, then held off a spirited charge by BYU to defeat the Cougars, 72-70. A critical three-point shot by Croatian David Skara with 17.7 seconds left to play proved the back-breaker for the Crusaders, now 30-6 on the season.
Valparaiso - in what looks more and more like one of the most boneheaded decisions ever made by an NCAA selection committee, was not invited to play in the NCAA tournament despite its incredible won-loss mark and strong preseason schedule. In one stretch, the Crusaders travelled to the west coast of the nation and took on Oregon and Oregon State in close order. Valpo handily beat Oregon State - an NCAA at-large team - and lost a very close game to Oregon State despite leading for much of the game. Oregon was a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Valpo led by 44-30 at halftime and expanded its lead to 16 before BYU rallied. With the score deadlocked, Sophmore David Skara put the Crusaders ahead to stay with a long three-pointer. Down by three points, the Cougars nonetheless worked the ball inside. Valpo's Vashil Fernandez blocked a layup attempt by Chase Fischer of BYU, but Fischer grabbed the loose ball and put it back in to cut the Crusader lead to 71-70 with 7 seconds to play. Three seconds later, Crusader Junior Shane Hammink of the Netherlands was fouled. He made one of his two free throws to expand the Valparaiso lead to two points, 72-70. Hammink then blocked Fischer's long three-point shot just before the final buzzer to secure the Valparaiso win. BYU finished its season with a record of 28-11.
George Washington then routed San Diego State, 65-46, to earn its berth in the NIT title game. The Colonials have also defeated Hofstra, Monmouth and Florida to earn its title game berth. Before last night, George Washington had not played in Madison Square Garden, one of college basketball's "meccas", since 2001.
Tyler Cavanaugh led the Colonials with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win over San Diego State. George Washington is now 27-10 and winners of 9 of their last 12 games. San Diego State finished the season with a record of 28-10.
Finally, in baseball last night the University of Maryland won its second straight game and evened its record at 12-12 by beating back VCU, 8-1. The Terps scored a single run in the first inning and five more in the second in College Park to put the game away. Taylor Stiles evened his record at 2-2 with 7 shutout innings. Stiles struck out only two Rams, but walked just one and needed but 93 pitches to get the job done. John Murphy and Zach Guth each pitched an inning in the win. Murphy surrendered the only VCU run and two hits, but he also struck out two during his inning. Guth also notched a strikeout and threw just ten pitches in his inning. He did not get a save because the Terps were too far ahead when he entered.
Maryland Coach John Szefc made an interesting line-up switch for the game, moving freshman outfielder Madison Nickens from second to first in the batting order and dropping shortstop Kevin Smith from leadoff to second in the batting order. In the first inning, Nickens struck out to leadoff, but Smith singled. Nick Dunn then followed with a single, and both runners advanced - Smith to third and Dunn to second - on a VCU error. Smith then scored when Nick Cieri, last night's catcher, grounded out. The Terps put the game away in the second inning. With one out, Anthony Papio walked and Dan Maynard, Maryland's Freshman Reserve Catcher who was the DH last night, followed with a single. Both runners moved up on a double steal, and Papio scored when Andrew Bechtold reached on an infield hit. After Nickens lined out, Maynard scored on a single by Smith. On that play, Bechtold raced from first to third. The Freshman, Dunn, then followed with a double, scoring Bechtold and sending Smith to third. When Cieri then singled, Smith and Dunn were able to score, making it a five run inning and leaving the Terps ahead, 6-0. Maryland made the score 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Papio smashed a two-out triple to score Dunn, who had led off the inning with a double, and Kevin Biondic, who drew a two-out walk on a full count pitch. VCU pushed across its lone and meaningless run in the top of the 8th.
The home and home series with the Rams continues today in Richmond beginning at 6:30 pm. The game is scheduled to be televised by the Atlantic 10 Network and can be heard on the Maryland Radio Network.
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