Last Night's Action: Drama In College Park
Josh Bard prevented a shutout with this homer, but it was loss 101
for the Nats last night. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
- Maryland 1, North Carolina 0: Leading with college soccer? You bet. 6,946 -- an attendance record for a Maryland soccer match, and more than 1,500 more spectators than last night's D.C. United match -- and soccer nuts watching on Fox Soccer Channel saw the Terrapins win a rematch of last season's NCAA men's championship game, which they also won by the same score. It was pure drama at the expanded Ludwig Field, as fifth-year senior captain Kevin Tangney headed in with two minutes left to settle matters. North Carolina's Billy Schuler, who has scored as a member of the United States' U-20 team (soccer fans, don't forget: the U.S. opens their 2010 U-20 World Cup tomorrow against Germany in Egypt) missed a penalty kick in the 55th minute to set up the dramatic ending. Said Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski, "that was one of the best moments of my 17 years here."
- Braves 4, Nationals 1: The Nationals got some ink earlier this year for statistically being the unluckiest team in the bigs, though losses like last night's only reinforce that idea is influenced by a lot of errors. John Lannan allowed but two unearned runs in the first inning thanks to two errors, and still found himself with a loss. Braves starter Javier Vazquez went the distance to keep Atlanta's slim hopes of a playoff berth alive. Vazquez worked quickly and shut down the Nats' offense, allowing only three hits in his third complete game of the year.
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