Stertzer's strike spurs Maryland rout in NCAA men's soccer tournament

John Stertzer used to be one of the biggest names in Virginia high school soccer. Now he's starting to make a name for himself in college at Maryland.

Stertzer scored in the eighth minute of the No. 3 Terrapins' NCAA second-round game against Penn on Sunday at Ludwig Field, sparking a 4-0 rout in front of 2,401 fans.

"He's a high-quality player," Maryland Coach Sasho Cirovski said of Stertzer. "We knew that when we recruited him, but he's really starting to hit it right now."

Maryland (18-2-1) advanced to the third round of the tournament for the ninth straight season. The Terrapins will host Penn State on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Stertzer, a sophomore, came to Maryland after a stellar career at Flint Hill in Oakton. He was named to the All-Met first team twice and was the Virginia Player of the Year in 2007, finishing with 105 career goals.

But he had only two goals in two seasons at Maryland coming into Sunday's game. Then, he made his seventh start of the season count almost immediately.

Maryland's scoring leader, Jason Herrick (26 points), drew the defense at the top of the box. He laid off a pass to Stertzer, who pushed it past one defender and beat the on-rushing keeper with a low shot toward the far post.

It was a fairly big tone-setter, since the Terps were 17-0 this season when they scored first.

"Any time you get the first goal in any game [it's big], but in a playoff game it becomes even more important," Cirovski said. "There's a finality to the game and teams open up with a little more desperation."

Maryland's offensive depth carried the rest of the first half.

Casey Townsend (21 points on the season) got pulled down in the box for a free kick in the 26th minute. Junior midfielder Matt Kassel (28 points) converted it confidently for a 2-0 lead.

With two minutes left in the half, Kassel hit a free kick into the danger zone from 35 yards out. Penn failed to clear it and senior defender Greg Young was in position for his first career goal.