Dec. 13, 2008
FRISCO, Texas - The St. John's men's soccer team was defeated by Maryland, 1-0, in double overtime in the NCAA College Cup Semifinals. Goalkeeper Neal Kitson made nine saves for St. John's (19-3-3) to keep Maryland off the board through regulation and the first overtime. Graham Zusi, however, tallied the game-winner on a free kick in the 105th minute to give Maryland (22-3-0) the win and the right to face North Carolina in the College Cup Finals. Maryland had the first chance of the game, but the St. John's defense blocked a shot by Zusi in the 15th minute. In the 17th minute Kitson was tested for the first time and made the save on a shot by Casey Townsend. Kitson came up with a big save in the 26th minute, grabbing a header by Jason Herrick following a Maryland corner kick. In the 37th minute the Red Storm had its first good scoring chance as Tadeu Terra sent a shot on goal following a Maryland foul. MacMath, however, made the save. Kitson made his third save of the opening half on a Herrick shot in the 40th minute. Following a St. John's corner kick in the 43rd minute, Connor Lade collected a loose ball and fired a shot over the bar and the game remained scoreless heading into halftime. Maryland came out quickly in the second half as Kitson stopped a Jeremy Hall shot in the 51st minute. Kitson made a huge save just 20 seconds later, tipping the ball towards the sideline. Herrick collected the rebound, but sent his shot just wide. Zusi sent a shot on net in the 60th minute, but Kitson again made the save. The senior keeper then stopped Zusi again in the 71st minute and saved a Herrick shot in the 74th minute. St. John's had the next opportunity. On a counter, the Red Storm worked the ball downfield and Ryan Soroka blasted a shot from 25 yards out that sailed just high.
Kitson stopped another Zusi shot in the 89th minute and the game headed into overtime scoreless. Neither team could create any good scoring chances in the first overtime, but in the second overtime the Terrapins capitalized on their best scoring opportunity of the game. In the 105th minute, St. John's was whistled for a foul just outside of the box. Zusi lined up for the free kick as the Red Storm formed a wall. Zusi then curled a shot over the wall, past a leaping Kitson and into the top left corner for the game-winner. Notes: St. John's finishes the season at 19-3-3 ... the 19 wins are the second most in school history ... the Red Storm is 3-3-0 in its four College Cup appearances ... Kitson made 95 saves this season; the most for a St. John's keeper since 1992 |
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