The Terrapins men’s soccer team needed just 22 seconds Friday night to end its first-half scoring struggles this season.

Forward Patrick Mullins set an aggressive tone immediately, after receiving a pass from John Stertzer off the opening kickoff. Mullins slashed through the attacking third and netted a goal from the top of the penalty box.

“That first goal 22 seconds in really took a lot out of [Stanford],” said forward Casey Townsend, who added two first-half goals in the Terps’ 4-0 win. “I think that was the key of the night.”

Mullins’ score sent more than 7,000 red-clad fans into an uproar, and put the No. 4 Terps on the board for the first time in an opening period this season. All six of their previous goals had come in the second half.

Feeding off the energy of the second-largest crowd in Ludwig Field history, the No. 4 Terps (4-0) went on a scoring tear. They had five times as many shots as Stanford (0-3) in the first half, and they tallied all four of their goals within the first 30 minutes of play.

That was the Terps’ highest first-half goal total since a 7-0 drubbing of Duquesne on Sept. 15, 2009.

“I think it was a lot about getting off to a fast start because we’ve had some slow starts,” Mullins said. “We really wanted to get out there and put it in the back of the net.”

Noticeably fatigued after their strong opening period, the Terps struggled to maintain the momentum in the second half. They recorded only five shot attempts in the latter period, compared to 10 in the first.

“The second half was as expected,” Cirovski said. “I think our guys were a little tired, but we weathered the storm.”

They relied on a makeshift backline to earn goalkeeper Will Swaim his second shutout of the season without recording a single save.

Although senior defender Alex Lee left in the second period with an undisclosed injury, freshman Parker Seymour filled in and helped continue Stanford’s early-season scoring drought. Through their first three games, the Cardinal are scoreless despite 18 total shots.

Cirovski continued to test the depth of his backline during a 2-1 home win over Radford (1-2) on Sunday.

With Lee still sidelined, the 19th-year coach opted to start freshman Kyle Roach in the co-captain’s defensive slot.

In his first minutes of the season, Roach proved effective. The Highlanders’ lone score, a 20-yard rocket from Anthony Payne in the 61st minute, was their only shot on goal.

That leaves Swaim with one goal allowed and zero saves over his past three games — a mark of the backline’s resiliency.

“I think (Roach) did a great job,” said Cirovski, minutes after recording his 300th career win Sunday. “He’s a testament to what I tell the guys: ‘If you’re not getting the minutes, your number could be called any time.'”

For the first time since 2006, the Terps will enter ACC play undefeated when they host No. 16 Boston College on Friday night. Cirovski’s squad hopes to avenge a 1-1 tie against the Eagles on Sept. 10 last season.

“I like our team. Actually, I love our team,” Cirovski said. “But every game’s going to have a different challenge, and Boston College is a very, very good team.”

letourneau@umdbk.com