Maryland Wins National Soccer Championship

Graham Zusi scored from 18 yards midway through the second half to lift Maryland to its second NCAA men's soccer championship in four years, a 1-0 victory over ACC rival North Carolina at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Tex., today.

The goal capped a spectacular weekend for Zusi, a senior midfielder who beat St. John's in the semifinals with a 26-yard free kick late in overtime. In the 68th minute of the final, Jeremy Hall's shot inside the penalty area was blocked by a defender and deflected into Zusi's path for a powerful one-timer into the lower left corner.

Second-seeded Maryland (23-3) won their final 16 games and denied the No. 13 Tar Heels (15-8-1) their first title since 2001.

Maryland also shared the 1968 championship after tying Michigan State and won it outright in 2005 by beating New Mexico.