CHESTER - Patrick Mullins scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season to lead Maryland to a 2-1 victory over Virginia in the NCAA men's soccer semifinals last night at PPL Park.
The Terrapins (17-3-5) will vie for their third national championship in the last 9 years when they face Notre Dame - a 2-0 winner over New Mexico in the first semifinal - the title game tomorrow.
Mullins scored in the 11th and the 76th minutes, receiving perfect lofted through balls on both goals - the first from Mikias Eticha and the second from Tsubasa Endoh.
Trailing 2-0 with time running out, Virginia (13-6-5) got on the board after Maryland's Dan Metzger took down Marcus Salandy-Defour in the box and Todd Wharton scored the ensuing penalty kick in the 77th minute.
Maryland goalie Zack Steffen, a Downingtown native, finished with five saves, including a diving stop on Brian James with less than 3 minutes remaining to preserve the win.
Mullins is a finalist to win his second straight MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation's best player.
In the first game, Patrick Hodan scored twice in the Fighting Irish's 2-0 win over New Mexico. Hodan has scored in six straight games, the last four in the NCAA tournament, and has 11 goals this season for Notre Dame (16-1-6)/
Goalkeeper Patrick Wall made five saves to blank the Lobos (14-6-2).