No. 6 Maryland Men's Soccer Battles No. 7 Connecticut
10/11/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 11, 2002
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GAME 13: Saturday, Oct. 12 ~ 7 p.m.
No. 6 Terps at No. 7 Connecticut
At Morrone Stadium (8,574); Storrs, Conn.
Maryland's Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 19 ~ 7 p.m.
No. 6 Terps at George Mason
At George Mason Stadium (5,000); Fairfax, Va.
No. 6 Maryland Battles No. 7 Connecticut
No. 6 Maryland (10-2, 3-1 ACC) travels to No. 7 Connecticut (9-2, 5-1 BIG EAST) Saturday, Oct. 12 to meet the Huskies at 7 p.m. at Marrone Stadium.
All-Time Series vs. Connecticut
In a series that has been dormant for six years, Maryland leads UCONN 5-1 in the all-time series. The last time the two met was also in Storrs, Conn., on Sept. 3, 1995 when Maryland beat host Connecticut 5-1. The Terps only loss in the series which dates back to 1950 is a 1-0 Connecticut win in the 1960 NCAA semifinals at Brooklyn.
Awakening the Ghosts of 1968
The No. 6 Terps' 10-2 start is the team's best start since 1968 when Maryland captured a share of the NCAA championship. Maryland finished the 1968 season undefeated at 14-0-1. The Terps' only tie came in the championship game, a 2-2 deadlock with Michigan State to split the crown that year. The start also stands as the best start in head coach Sasho Cirovski's 10 year-tenure at Maryland.
Terps Now NSCAA's No. 6
The University of Maryland men's soccer team rose as high as No. 4 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll two weeks ago, but fell back to No. 6 with their 3-0 loss to then-No. 8 Wake Forest on Sept. 27. The Terps stayed at No. 6 this week, and have spent the last five weeks in the poll's Top 10. Five of Maryland's opponents this season are ranked in the current poll, including three ACC teams and this Saturday's opponent, No. 7 Connecticut.
UM started the season 10th in the NSCAA preseason poll, but fell out of the rankings after a one-goal loss to then-No. 20 Kentucky at the Virginia Soccer Classic during week one of the season. They rose to No. 10 again the week of Sept. 9, up to No. 6 the week of Sept. 16, and up to No. 4 on Sept. 23 before landing at No. 6 in last week's poll and remaining there this week.
UM vs. Ranked Opponents
The game against Connecticut this week will mark the fifth time Maryland will face an opponent ranked in the NSCAA's Top 25 this season. The Terps are now 2-2 against ranked opponents after the 3-0 loss to then-No. 8 Wake when the Terps were ranked No. 4. Then-No. 5 Maryland beat then-No. 20 Duke 3-0 on Sept. 22 to raise it's ranked vs. the rankeds to 2-1. In their first meeting with a ranked team on Sept. 1, then-No. 20 Kentucky upset the Terps 2-1 at the Virginia Soccer Classic when Maryland was ranked No. 10. The Terps then met No. 8 Loyola on Sept. 11, earning a commanding 3-1 win over the Greyhounds also when Maryland was ranked No. 10.
Maryland Offense No. 6
Averaging 3.09 goals per game, the Maryland offense was ranked sixth heading into this week among NCAA Division I programs. UC-Santa Barbara leads the list, averaging 3.56 goals per game. The Terrapins are the highest scoring offense in the ACC, with Clemson next in line at No. 13 nationally. Thus far, the No. 9 Tigers are averaging 2.78 goals per game.
Maryland is Tops in this week's Regional rankings
Maryland remains at the top of the South Atlantic Region's rankings for the fourth week in a row. The Terps are followed in the top five by, in rank order, American, Virginia, George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth.
Cirovski Three Away From 150 Career Wins
Entering the game this Saturday with No. 7 Connecticut, Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski is three wins away from his 150th career win. The 2002 season marks the 10th year that head coach Sasho Cirovski has guided the Terrapin men's soccer program, which he has piloted to a 121-72-9 record during his years in College Park. Cirovski, a 1986 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is entering his 12th year overall and has a 147-84-15 career record.
Under Cirovski, the Terrapins have over 100 wins, a 1998 appearance in the national semifinals, and eight NCAA appearances. Maryland won the 1996 ACC Championship and has had numerous Terrapins sign professional contracts in the United States and abroad.
Points Aplenty
Twelve games into the season, Maryland is not only displaying a talented attack, but a diverse attack, as well. The Terps had the No. 6 offense heading into the week, averaging 3.09 goals per game. Five Terrapins have scored four or more goals this season, with 13 different Terps finding the back of the net. All told, 15 Maryland players have contributed to the offense this season.
Terps Climbing All-Time Assists List
Two current juniors are climbing Maryland's chart for career assists. Sumed Ibrahim (Tamale, Ghana), paced by a 13-assist season last year, is tied for No. 5 all-time with Randy Merkel (1996-98), while tri-captain Scott Buete (Bowie, Md.) is tied for No. 7 with Jason Cropley (1996-99). Both have 18 career assists. Classmate A.J. Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.) is making a run at adding his name, as well, and currently has 14 career assists.
Maryland Career Assists Chart
1. 35 Keith Beach (1995-98)
2. 32 Eberhard Klein (1962-64)
3. 22 Jason Sardis (1997-2000)
4. 21 Shane Dougherty (1993-94)
5. 19 Sumed Ibrahim (1999-Pres.)
19 Randy Merkel (1996-98)
7. 18 Scott Buete (1999-Pres.)
18 Jason Cropley (1996-99)
9. 17 Taylor Twellman (1998-99)
17 Steve Armas (1995-98)
Super Sumed
Few have found the answer for the Terp Sumed Ibrahim, who started the 2002 season with a bang and is leading the Terps in scoring. To begin the season at the Virginia Soccer Classic, Sumed scored seven points in the first half of the Rhode Island game off two goals and three assists, a single-game record at the Virginia Soccer Classic. His performance helped lift the Terps to a 8-0 victory and grabbed Sumed all-tournament honors.
The dynamite midfielder picked-up more hardware at the Maryland/FILA Classic when he earned Offensive MVP and all tournament team honors. In the Terrapins' 2-1 victory over the Nittany Lions, Sumed scored the game-winning goal in the 36th minute of play. Against Virginia Commonwealth, his assist came on the Terps' first goal of the day to set the offensive pace in the second half. The 2-0 weekend earned the Terps the tourney title for the first time in Maryland/FILA Classic's three-year history.
His Maryland/FILA Classic performance also earned him ACC Player of the Week and Soccer America Team of the Week honors.
Against Loyola, Sumed netted his third game-winning goal of the season and added his fourth game-winning goal vs. Duke. The redshirt-junior received College Soccer News team of the week recognition for his performance.
After netting the game-winner against Manhattan, Sumed headed one in against North Carolina for his sixth game-winning goal of the year in nine Terrapin wins. Sumed was named Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week for the feat.
Sumed now has 18 points after 11 games and six game-winners. Last season, Sumed was Maryland's top scorer with 31 points on nine goals and 13 assists.
Honest Abe
Maryland's Abe Thompson (Fairfax City, Va.) is continuing what he started his freshman year when he led the Terrapins in scoring with 31 points. Through 12 games, Thompson has seven goals and six assists to led the Terps in scoring again this year.
The redshirt-sophomore has netted the gamewinner in three games, two on penalty kicks and one against Georgetown on Wednesday.
Thompson picked up Maryland/FILA Classic all-tournament honors after netting two goals and adding an assist against Virginia Commonwealth. Thompson was also named Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week for his game-winner against NC State.
Beginner's Skill, Not Luck Grabs Diaz Honors
Erwin Diaz (Washington, D.C.) earned ACC Player of the Week honors the week of Sept. 23 after leading the Terrapins to a 2-0 record. Diaz netted three goals en route to victories over William & Mary (4-1) and No. 20 Duke (3-0). The freshman forward scored the Terps' first and third goals against William & Mary and the second goal in the victory over the Blue Devils. Diaz has four goals and two assists on the season.
Diaz also earned Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week for his performances against William & Mary and Duke as well as his performance in the classroom.
For Terp, Life Is Good
Terps' sophomore defender Clarence Goodson (Springfield, Va.) was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week after playing to solid games for the Terps the week of Sept. 16-22, highlighted by an assist on Maryland's third goal against Duke. Maryland shut out the Blue Devils for the defense's third shutout of the 12-game old season and second ACC win. Goodson has one goal and two assists this season for Maryland.
Stammler Gets Honors
The Defensive MVP of the Maryland/FILA Classic, Seth Stammler (Gahanna, Ohio) was named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week for the week ending Sept. 8 for his efforts. Stammler and the Terps captured a 2-1 win over Penn State on Sept. 6 as well as a 4-1 victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Sept. 8 to clinch the 2002 Maryland/FILA Classic.
In addition to pacing a defense that gave up two goals on the weekend, Stammler added two assists to the offensive efforts for the tournament champion Terps. His assist in game one of the tournament vs. Penn State was on Sumed Ibrahim's game-winning goal in the 36th minute. Stammler's second assist of the weekend led to the Terps' first goal of the day against Virginia Commonwealth. He is tied for fourth on the Terps' season assists list with three helpers through 12 games.
No Seniors? No Problem!
With no seniors to be found, the Terrapin lineup may look inexperienced, but looks can be deceiving. Fact is, four Terrapins were on the roster in 1999 when the team earned its first-ever No. 1 ranking from Soccer America.
In addition, eight Terps have been with Maryland for at least three years, six of which have had to take a medical redshirt for a year.
Sophomore goalkeeper? Also not a problem. Fact: starting netminder Noah Palmer was in the hotspot last season for 17 games, finishing with an 11-7-1 record.
The Sasho Cirovski Coach's Show
Maryland's head men's soccer coach Sasho Cirovski debuted "The Sasho Cirvoski Show" on Friday, Sept. 13, on www.wmucsports.com. The chat show will air at 6 p.m. every other Friday throughout the 2002 season on WMUC's Internet station. Every show in the series will feature a different Terps' player.
Missed the first installment? Each show will be archived on www.wmucsports.com under the following link:
http://www.wmucsports.com/coaches_arch.html.
The tentative schedule for the show this season is as follows:
Sasho Cirovski Coach's Show Schedule
Oct. 4 (Noah Palmer) 6 p.m.
Oct. 11 6 p.m.
Nov. 1 6 p.m.
Nov. 8 6 p.m.
Postseason Schedule to Come
WMUC Announces Broadcast Schedule
WMUC, the student radio station for the University of Maryland, has announced it's broadcast schedule for the 2002 season. Fourteen of the Terrapins' games will be broadcast on either 88.1 FM or over the Internet.
All games that are broadcast on the station's FM affiliate will also be simulcast on both of the station's Internet addresses:
www.wmuc.umd.edu
www.wmucsports.com
Games broadcast only on the Internet can be found at www.wmucsports.com. All games can also be found by clicking the link in the on the official website of Maryland Athletics, www.umterps.com.
WMUC Broadcast Schedule
Pregame
Date Opponent Show StationO13 at Connecticut 6:30 p.m. Both
O19 at George Mason 6:30 p.m. Internet
O26 CLEMSON 6:30 p.m. Both
N1 at Virginia 6:30 p.m. Both
N6 BUCKNELL 6:30 p.m. Internet
N8 MOUNT ST. MARY'S 6:30 p.m. Internet
N13-17 at ACC Tournament Both
Internet- These game broadcasts will only be on www.wmucsports.com. Both- These game broadcasts will be on both www.wmuc.umd.edu & www.wmucsports.com as well as 88.1 FM WMUC.
Games in bold are home games, broadcast from Ludwig Field.
