Oct. 19, 2002
Maryland scored three goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half, including two by sophomore Domenic Mediate, to blow the game open as the nationally ranked Terrapins defeated George Mason, 4-1, in a non-conference college men's soccer game Saturday night at George Mason Stadium.
Maryland (ranked ninth in the nation by the NSCAA, 10th by Soccer America and 11th by SoccerTimes.com) improved to 11-3 with the victory. George Mason dropped its second straight game as it fell to 6-3-2.
The four goals by the Terrapins were the most scored this season against George Mason, which entered the game ranked 10th in the nation for goals-against average at 0.65. Maryland entered the contest with the 11th-ranked offense in the country (2.77 goals per game) and has scored 40 goals in 14 games.
Maryland sophomore Abe Thompson took advantage of a missed Mason clear and drilled a shot from right to left into the right side of the goal past George Mason sophomore goalkeeper John O'Hara (ranked 11th in the nation for GAA entering the week at 0.65). Thompson's goal, his team-leading eighth of the season, came at 7:14 and gave Maryland a 1-0 lead that held through the rest of the first half.
The Terrapins took control early in the second half. Just 1:47 into the period, junior Scott Buete sent a cross into the Patriot penalty area that was deflected by O'Hara, but Maryland junior Nino Marcantonio touched the ball to Mediate, who scored from 15 yards for a 2-0 lead. Marcantonio and Mediate connected again 1:47 later when Marcantonio, after a pass from sophomore Michael Dello-Russo, sent a low cross into the box that found Mediate, who slipped it past O'Hara again at 48:34. Maryland struck again at 57:05 as junior Seth Stammler's free kick found sophomore Clarence Goodson at the far post and he headed the ball in for a 4-0 lead.
The Patriots broke up the shutout at 78:10 as junior Mirza Kurspahic sent a corner kick into the Terrapin penalty area. Freshman Damian O'Rourke flicked the ball across the goalmouth to senior Laszlo Juhasz, who headed the ball into the net for his first goal of the season.
George Mason visits defending NCAA champion North Carolina Tuesday at 7 p.m.
