Sophomore forward Abe Thompson scored three goals as Maryland beat Virginia, 3-0, yesterday in Cary, N.C., to win its second Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer championship.
It was the first conference title since 1996 for the second-seeded Terrapins (17-4), and Thompson's three goals tied a tournament record set by Wake Forest's Ihor Dotsenko in 1997.
Thompson, selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player, scored his first goal at the 4:45 mark off assists from Domenic Mediate and Scott Buete. He also scored on penalty kicks at 57:50 and 80:24.
Maryland goalkeeper Noah Palmer had seven saves; Virginia keeper David Comfort had two saves.
Virginia (15-6) outshot Maryland 17-8.
As the 2002 tournament champion, Maryland receives the ACC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament; the tournament pairings will be announced today.
Loyola 2, Marist 1: Senior Mike Lynam scored on a flying header past Marist goalkeeper Mike Valenti with less than 13 minutes left, propelling Loyola (13-4-3) past the Red Foxes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game in Lawrenceville, N.J.
After freshman Conor Messerle was fouled on the right flank, Loyola's John Dalziel took the ensuing free kick just to the right of the box. His drive to the near post found Lynam, who headed the ball underneath Valenti for the game-winner.
Marist (8-10-1), which took the early lead on a Joe Crespo goal in the seventh minute, had one great opportunity in the final 12 minutes. David Musinski jumped for a header near the top of the box and sent it toward the goal, but Greyhounds goalie Reb Beatty punched the ball over the crossbar and out of play.
Loyola, which won its 10th MAAC championship in 14 seasons, tied the game in the 25th minute when Juliano Adriano de Oliveira took a short corner from Bill Law and found a diving Vinnie Piscopo in the box. Valenti saved Piscopo's header, but John Alecci was there at the far post to knock the rebound into the net.
Field hockey
Salisbury 3, Cortland State 1: The third-ranked Sea Gulls beat the defending national champion and sixth-ranked Red Dragons (15-4) in Salisbury to advance to the Division III national semifinals.
Jess Manzone, Brittany Elliott and Lindsay Elliott scored for the Sea Gulls. Erin Budd had three assists.
Salisbury (17-2) earned its second final four appearance in three years and sixth overall.
Salisbury will face top-ranked Rowan on Friday in Springfield, Mass. Fourth-ranked College of New Jersey will face No. 2 Messiah in the other semifinal.