Terps can't hold off Wake

By Todd Karpovich | Special to The Baltimore Sun

September 27, 2008

Maryland's Casey Townsend goes over Wake ForestÂs Danny Wenzel to head the ball away during the first half. (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / September 26, 2008)

COLLEGE PARK - When Jason Herrick gave host Maryland the lead 48seconds into last night's game against top-ranked Wake Forest, it appeared to be a good omen for the No.2 Terps, who had lost just once since 2006 when they scored first.

However, the Demon Deacons showed their resilience, as the defending national champions came from behind twice to tie the score and then rolled off two unanswered goals for a 4-2 victory before an announced capacity crowd of 6,500 and a national television audience. The Demon Deacons extended their winning streak to a school-record 13 games and handed Maryland its first home loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference since Oct. 14, 2006.

"Wake is a great team, and they proved it tonight," said Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski, who last week became the program's leader in wins with 219. "They showed their experience and their class. I thought we had a great first half. I was disappointed in the lack of energy we had in the second half."

Wake Forest (8-0, 2-0 ACC) entered the game as the most balanced team in the ACC, leading the conference in scoring at three goals a game and being tied with Maryland at three goals allowed. The teams also have the two top goalkeepers in the ACC. Maryland's Will Swaim, a Howard High grad, entered last night leading the conference in goals-against average (0.25), and the Demon Deacons' Akira Fitzgerald, who attended Loyola, was second (0.50).

"This is a really tough place to play," Fitzgerald said. "They came out strong and got that quick goal. We responded and got one right back. Coming out of here with a win is great, no matter what the score is."

The Terps (6-2, 2-1) wasted little time scoring when Herrick headed in a cross by Rodney Wallace from about 6 yards out. The Demon Deacons answered almost seven minutes later when Marcus Tracy took a pass from Sam Cronin from 10 yards out and fired a shot into the top of the goal.

Both teams were effective moving forward early in the game, and there was little hesitancy despite playing for supremacy in both the ACC and in the national rankings. Maryland regained the lead in the 28th minute when freshman Casey Townsend knocked in a loose ball from about 8 yards out.

A steady rain began to fall near the end of the first half, and each team had trouble controlling the ball. Wake Forest's Ike Opara tied the score in the 40th minute when he headed in a pass from Danny Wenzel.

The Demon Deacons took advantage of the slippery field two minutes into second half when Austin da Luz and Michael Lahoud worked the ball around a couple of sliding Maryland defenders to Zack Schilawski, who finished from close-range for a 3-2 lead. Da Luz then gave Wake Forest a two-goal cushion 12 minutes later.

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