WVU falls to Maryland in second round

The same squad to hand the West Virginia men's soccer team its first loss of the season also ended up being the last.

The No. 5 national seed Maryland advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament with a 4-0 victory over the Mountaineers (11-8-1) Sunday night.

It was a high-action match between two of the fastest teams in all of college soccer, but the Terrapins came out on top in College Park, Md., thanks to a hat trick from senior forward Casey Townsend.

The senior forward netted his first of three goals in the 19th minute, off a deflection that was challenged by junior goalkeeper Pat Eavenson, leaving the net open.

Eavenson made three saves on the game, compared to one by UMD goalkeeper Keith Cardona.

Soon after the Terps' first goal, WVU junior midfielder Shadow Sebele entered the game from the bench, instantly providing the Mountaineers with more offensive opportunities.

Just five minutes after entering, Sebele hit a beautiful ball to junior defender Eric Schoenle on the back post.

Schoenle's header made it past keeper Keith Cardona, but the last UMD defender was waiting on the line to clear it away, representing one of West Virginia's best scoring chances in the match.

WVU kept it close in the first half, playing in stride with its opponent, but just before the final 30 minutes of the game, the wheels seemed to fall off for the Mountaineers.

Maryland's second goal came in the 59th minute following a questionable foul call at the other end of the field.

After the foul, UMD quickly worked the ball down the right side until it was crossed to Townsend in the middle who buried the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the game.

Shortly after the goal, West Virginia head coach Marlon LeBlanc was in a dispute with the officials, which earned him a yellow card.

"I thought the second goal was the one that pretty much broke our backs," LeBlanc said. "Two of our players were engaged in conversation (with the officials), and there was a quick restart and they were able to come down field and score, literally before we even got to midfield and that, in and of itself, changed the game."

Soon after, Jordan Cyrus added the third goal for the Terrapins, finding the net from the right post off a cross in the 60th minute.

Casey Townsend completed his hat trick in the 75th minute off of a long pass that he chipped over the head of Eavenson, sending it bouncing into the goal in front of a pursuing Schoenle.

Maryland owned possession for most of the game, outshooting WVU 19-5 and 7-1 in shots on goal.

WVU had numerous decent chances throughout the game, but just three days removed from an overtime win over Xavier, the Mountaineers seemed a step slower than the fresh-legged Terrapins, who had not played in 12 days.

"I think they had a game plan knowing we had an overtime game on Thursday," LeBlanc said. "They put us under as much pressure and as much duress as possible. That was the most direct I have ever seen a Maryland team play."

Seven seniors – Ray Gaddis, Matt Drake, Nick Claudio, Ruben Garrido, Franck and Uzi Tayou, and Yale Tiley – all suited up for WVU for the final time Sunday.

"All of our seniors have been critical to our success," LeBlanc said. "When we walked off the field at the end of the game, I told them I was proud of them.

We had games this season where we lost, and I wasn't happy, but I was proud of the effort our guys put in today."