Maryland wins NCAA soccer title, beats Akron, 1-0, in men’s College Cup final
Updated 8:04 AM; Posted Dec 9, 10:07 PM
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Staff and Wire Reports
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Maryland won its fourth NCAA men’s soccer national championship with a 1-0 victory over Akron in the College Cup final Sunday night in Harder Stadium.
A second-half penalty kick for a 1-0 lead and a defense that did not allow a goal in five NCAA Tournament games proved too much for unseeded Akron (15-7-2), which crisscrossed the country with a string up upsets and looked unstoppable after a 5-1 semifinal win against Michigan State in Friday’s semifinal.
“We knew that they would be aggressive, try to press us and disrupt our rhythm,” Akron coach Jared Embick said. “We never really got in a comfort zone and I credit Maryland’s work rate and pressure.”
Maryland allowed just one goal when it won its last title in 2008.
"2008 was the gold standard. We gave up one goal that year. So we have to maybe call this the platinum standard of defending,'' Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski told ESPN.
Terrapins goalie Dayne St. Clair needed to make just two saves.
“We’re brothers,” St. Clair said. “We’re so close. The relationship this team has is sensational, and I think that’s why we’re sitting here today.”
Akron was attempting to win its second national championship (2010).
https://www.cleveland.com/sports/co...eats-akron-1-0-in-mens-college-cup-final.html
