ACC thriller is 'great advertisement for college soccer'

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 21, 2012

[MARYLAND-NORTH CAROLINA] Schillo Tshuma's golden goal gave No. 1 Maryland a 1-0 win over No. 2 North Carolina in front of a crowd of 7,340, the second highest in Maryland history. The water-logged field did not slow down the Terrapins or Tar Heels in wild game that featured three Maryland and two Carolina shots off the woodwork and a missed Carolina penalty.

“This was a great game,” Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski. "It was a great advertisement for college soccer. This was a real classic 1v2 game [in NSCAA poll] and this is one of those nights I’ll always treasure."

Both goalies had huge games. Maryland keeper Keith Cardona rescued the Terrapins when he saved Rob Lovejoy’s penalty and midfielder Verneri Valimaa’s follow-up late in the game. The chance for Valimaa was his second of the half after hitting the right post in the 63rd minute.

The Terrapins outshot Carolina, 16-6, but were thwarted time and again by goalkeeper Scott Goodwin.
 
Midway through the first half, the Terrapins peppered  the UNC goal with five shots, but Goodwin rose to the task, making three quality saves. In the second half, Goodwin made a great save on John Stertzer.

Maryland also watched in dismay as defender Dakota Edwards’ effort slammed off the post and Tshuma’s header struck the post.

To top it off, Maryland raced down the other end of the field after Cardona's double save on the penalty kick sequence, and Patrick Mullins’ shot with mere seconds on the clock found the post.

The overtime session began with the Tar Heels nearly finding the game-winner. Mickey Lopez, just back from the Marbella Cup with the U.S. U-20s, attacked from the left side and sent a shot toward goal that was redirected by Andy Craven off the post.
 
The Terps finally won the game in the first overtime stanza when Tshuma found Mullins, and the senior’s left-footed shot was redirected in by the freshman for his sixth goal of the season.
 
It was the first goal in nearly 500 minutes Carolina -- the nation's top defense -- allowed and only the fourth it has surrendered all season.
 
"They hit a few goalposts, we hit a few goalposts," Cirovski said. "We saved a penalty and then we win in overtime. It doesn’t get much better than that."
 
Oct. 19 in College Park, Md.
Maryland 1 North Carolina 0.
Maryland -- Cardona, Cyrus, Ambrose, Woodberry, Edwards, Metzger, Stertzer, Raley, Jane, Mullins, Tshuma. Subs: Francois, Eticha, Endoh,  Pace.
North Carolina -- Goodwin, Campbell, Okwuonu, McCrary, Gafa, Brown, Valimaa, George, Lopez, Lovejoy, Craven. Subs: Garcia, Murphy.
Att.: 7,340.
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