Aug. 21, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The sixth-ranked Maryland men's soccer team kicked off its competitive preseason schedule with a 3-0 shutout against No. 17 St. John's Saturday at Ludwig Field.

Three different Terps scored for Maryland while keepers Zac MacMath and Will Swaim combined for the shutout in goal. The exhibition match, which consisted of three 35-minute periods, gave head coach Sasho Cirovski an opportunity to see an array of players and provided a solid look at an improved Terrapin offense.

"I was very pleased with what I saw...this was a very good St. John's team that returned eight starters," Cirovski said. "I thought we played well. I think you are beginning to see that the pieces are there for a potentially very strong team that is very committed."

Senior defender Greg Young scored his first collegiate goal when he connected on a serve from fellow defender London Woodberry and his diving header went into the back of the net with 10 minutes elapsed in the game.

Four minutes later, Jason Herrick found Kaoru Forbess in the middle of the field, just outside the box, and Forbess provided Casey Townsend with a perfectly placed chip-shot assist for a two-goal Maryland cushion. Matt Kassel gave the Terps their third score when he bent a corner kick left-footed from the far side of the field past the Red Storm keeper midway through the contest.

Maryland outshot their Big East foe, 12-4, in the match.

The Terps return to action Tuesday night when they travel to UMBC for a friendly against the Retrievers at 4 p.m.