Terps hold Zips to zip in final
Harbaugh tells ESPN he’s not leaving Michigan to return to NFL
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Amar Sejdic scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute and Maryland held off Akron 1-0 on Sunday night to win its fourth NCAA soccer title.
“It’s a moment that I’ve thought of since I came to Maryland. I knew that if the moment came I wanted to be the guy to step up and take it,” Sejdic said. “Scoring a goal in a meaningful match like that and celebrating with all the players is something that I’ll remember forever.”
Akron’s Colin Biros kicked Johaness Bergmann in the face pursuing the ball inside the 18-yard box, resulting in the penalty shot. Sejdic calmly converted the opportunity with a well-struck shot to the right of Ben Lundt after the goalkeeper guessed wrong and dove to the left.
“I thought he would go to my left and he went to my right,” Lundt said.
Dayne St. Clair made two saves in Maryland’s fifth straight shutout.
“We’re brothers,” St. Clair said. “We’re so close. The relationship this team has is sensational, and I think that’s why we’re sitting here today.”
The goal came on Maryland’s first penalty kick during regulation play all season.
“I could not be more proud of this group,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We talked about this being a big moment for our program. They were pushed and hardened after a challenging schedule. And now, they’re jewels. I am incredibly happy for them.”
Maryland shared the 1968 title with Michigan State and also won championships in 2005 and 2008. Cirovski won his third title at the school.
Maryland finished the season 13-6-4, and Akron was 15-7-2.
Sejdic was selected the College Cup’s Most Outstanding Player.
“Within us, we’ve been through it all,” Sejdic said. “It means so much to me to wear the captain’s armband for this university. And it’s an honor for us to be able to lift up this trophy.”
HARBAUGH STAYING: The annual rumor of Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL hit its fourth consecutive year this month. And for the fourth straight year, Harbaugh shot it all down.
Michigan football’s head coach, speaking with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday, emphatically denied any speculation he’s trying to leave Michigan for the NFL. He took it one step further, claiming anyone who says he is thinking about leaving is doing so with a recruiting agenda in mind.
“This is a choreographed message that comes up at this time every year before signing day,” Harbaugh told Schefter. “It’s people spreading messages to further their own personal agenda. But I’m on record right here, right now: I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying at Michigan. We have big plans here, and there’s a lot we want to accomplish.”
ALLEN WINS AWARD: Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the college defensive player having the biggest influence on his team.
Allen received the award Sunday night from former Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott in Newport Beach, Calif. He edged fellow finalists Ben Burr-Kirven of Washington, Christian Wilkins of Clemson and Ben Humphreys of Duke.