MARYLAND DEFEATS VCU, 4-1 9-8-02 COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland men's soccer team captured the Maryland/FILA Classic Sunday with a 4-1 win over Virginia Commonwealth. Freshman Erwin Diaz netted the game winner in the 61st minute to secure the Terps' victory. Maryland raises its record to 3-1 on the season after beating Penn State 2-1 to open the tournament on Friday. VCU is 2-2 after going winless in the Classic. The first half was scoreless and statistically even with Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth taking three shots and committing nine fouls each. Corners kicks heavily favored the Terps, 6-0, but did not yield any Terps' goals. Maryland began the scoring less than six minutes into the second half, when Seth Stammler found Sumed Ibrahim on the nearside of the field. Sumed settled the ball and crossed it to Abe Thompson, who drilled it into the net. In the 61st minute, a steal by Terps' captain Scott Buete in the deep near corner resulted in Maryland's second goal of the game. Buete found freshman Diaz after the steal, who made the deposit for a 2-0 lead. Thompson struck again, this time from the air, when Michael Dello-Russo crossed the ball from right to left for the Thompson header in the 67th minute. The goal was the redshirt-sophomore's fourth of the year. In the 69th minute, contact in the box from Maryland keeper Noah Palmer resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for VCU. Cristian Neagu (Ploiesti, Romania) nailed the penalty kick past Palmer in the lower right corner making it 3-1 in favor of the Terps. Dello-Russo closed out the scoring in the contest when he connected from 10-yards out on a feed from Thompson in the 88th minute to give Maryland a commanding 4-1 lead and the win. The goal was the first of the season for the sophomore midfielder. VCU’s next competition is this weekend (Sept. 13-14) when the Rams meet Howard and Lehigh in the University of Richmond Nike Challenge. Box Score 1 2 F Va. Commonwealth 0 1 1 Maryland 0 4 4 Scoring: 50:06- MARYLAND: Abe Thompson (Sumed Ibrahim, Seth Stammler 60:28- MARYLAND: Erwin Diaz (Scott Buete) 66:39- MARYLAND: Abe Thompson (Michael Dello-Russo) 68:12- VA. COMMONWEALTH: Cristian Neagu (Penalty Kick) 88:06- MARYLAND: Michael Dello-Russo (Abe Thompson) Shots: VCU 3+9=12, UM 3+7=10 Corner Kicks: VCU 0+5=5, UM 6+3=9 Fouls: VCU 9+10=19, UM 9+10=19 Offsides: VCU 0+0=0, UM 2+1=3 Goalkeeping: Maryland Noah Palmer (90 minutes, 1 goals against, 6 saves); Va. Commonwealth Saul Montero (90 minutes, 4 goals against, 2 saves) Cards: Va. Comm.-none, Maryland-none All Tournament Team Maryland: Sumed Ibrahim (Offensive MVP) Seth Stammler (Defensive MVP) Abe Thompson Noah Palmer Penn State: Brent Jacquette Chad Severs Brian Devlin Virginia: Mahatha Oliver Johnathan Cole VCU: Carlos Garay Gonzalo Segares