Oct. 6, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In front of 1,016 fans on Wednesday night at Ludwig Field, host Maryland (6-3-1) scored an insurance goal with just over three minutes remaining in the contest and defeated visiting Villanova (5-3-2) by a 3-1 score.

The Terrapins took a 2-0 lead into halftime, but quickly saw the margin cut in half when Wildcat freshman Danny DeMasters lofted a free kick from 30 yards over the head of goalkeeper Noah Palmer at the 53:49 mark. Both teams had chances for another goal as the second period continued, but Villanova was unable to find the equalizer. Maryland came up empty on its chances for most of the half, but at the 86:56 mark, Stephen King scored his second goal of the game off a feed from Domenic Mediate and put the game out of reach.

Junior goalkeeper Craig Bald (Edgewater, Md.) went the distance in net for the Wildcats and made one save, while Palmer played all 90 minutes in goal for Maryland and had two saves.

The Terrapins, who were ranked #1 in the entire nation at one point this season, broke a four-game winless streak (0-3-1), while Villanova lost for the third time in its last four games. Maryland took a 2-0 lead in the first half with a pair of goals less than five minutes apart. Jason Garey opened the scoring at the 18:49 mark when he found the net off a scramble in front of the goal, and King netted the first of his goals at 23:23 on a touch-and-go from teammate Michael Dello-Russo after a corner kick. Garey also assisted on that goal.

The Wildcats were outshot 6-2 in the opening half but reversed the margin in the second half and outshot their hosts 10-6. Both teams wound up with 12 shots for the game.

Villanova will step away from the conference schedule on Sunday when it hosts St. Peter's. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at the West Campus Soccer Field.