Sports Briefs - Winter 2019

Ultimate Goal Achieved

Men's Soccer Tops Akron for Program's Fourth National Title

Fifty years after its first national championship and 10 years after its most recent, the University of Maryland men’s soccer team netted the top prize again.

Senior captain Amar Sejdic scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute to send the 11th-seeded Terps past Akron, 1–0, in the College Cup Final on Dec. 9 in Santa Barbara, Calif. The national title is Maryland’s fourth in program history (1968, 2005, 2008) and third under longtime head coach Sasho Cirovski.

“It means so much to me to wear the captain’s armband for this university,” said Sejdic, named the College Cup’s Most Outstanding Player. “And it’s an honor for us to be able to lift up this trophy.”

UMD (13–6–4), led by redshirt junior goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, didn’t allow a goal in 450 minutes of NCAA tournament action, closing out the season with five straight shutouts.

“We talked about this being a big moment for our program,” Cirovski said. “They were pushed and hardened after a challenging schedule. And now, they’re jewels. I am incredibly happy for them.”

Field Hockey Falls to UNC in NCAA Title Game

The UMD field hockey team, competing in its second straight NCAA championship game, lost 2–0 to No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 18 in Louisville, Ky. The defeat halted Maryland’s quest for a ninth national title and eighth under longtime Coach Missy Meharg.

The Big Ten-champion Terps (22–3) controlled much of the second half, outshooting the undefeated Tar Heels 9–3 in the period and 9–8 overall.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team,” Meharg said. “North Carolina has had an incredible season. To outshoot and outcorner them is a great testament to Maryland.”