No. 1 Terps Begin NCAA Tournament Action Hosting American
11/26/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 26, 2002
NCAA SECOND ROUND
Wednesday, Nov. 27 ~ 5 p.m.
No. 2 Seed Terps (17-4, 4-2 ACC) vs. American (15-5-0, 3-3 ACC)
at Ludwig Field (4,000): College Park, Md.
No. 2 seed Maryland opens NCAA action in the second round this Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. vs. American. The Terps received one of 16 byes through first round action, while American advanced to meet the Terps with a 1-0 win over George Washington in the first round over the weekend.
Maryland is making its 22nd appearance in the NCAA tournament. The No. 2 seed is the highest ever for the Terps. The only other time the Terps were seeded was in 1999, when Maryland entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed.
This is the second time Maryland and American are meeting in postseason action. In 1997, American eliminated the Terps 1-0 in the second round at American.
Terps Soccer America's No. 1 Team Entering NCAA Tourney
Maryland is Soccer America's current No. 1 team in the country. The last time Maryland was ranked No. 1 was the week of Sept. 20, 1999. The year before, Maryland made it all the way to the NCAA national semifinals. The Terps spent one week in the top spot in 1999 before falling at Duke and sliding in the rankings. It was their only other No. 1 rankings by the publication.
WMUC To Broadcast NCAA Second Round
WMUC, the student radio station for the University of Maryland, is broadcasting the 2002 NCAA second round game live on 88.1 FM in College Park as well as on its Internet stations www.wmucradio.com and www.wmucsports.com. The game can also be found by clicking the link in the on the official website of University of Maryland Athletics, www.umterps.com. Livestats will also be available at umterps.
Maryland All-Time in the NCAA Tournament
Maryland enters the 2002 NCAA tournament with a 20-20-1 overall record and has one co-championship from when it split the crown with Michigan State in 1969, tying the Spartans 2-2 in the championship game. The Terrapins are 8-7 under head coach Sasho Cirovski in the NCAA Tournament with seven appearances since his arrival in 1993.
Current Terps in the NCAA Tournament
Overall, the current Terps are 1-2 in NCAA tournament play. In 1999, Maryland was upset by St. John's 1-0. In 2000, the injury-ravaged Terps failed to make the NCAA postseason. Last season, Maryland split 1-1, beating Notre Dame (1-0) and losing to Loyola (0-1, OT).
Individual Terps in the NCAA Tournament
Two current Terrapins have scored points during their careers in the NCAA Tournament. Tri-captain Scott Buete (Bowie, Md.) is the only Terp on this year's roster to score in NCAA tournament action. Buete scored Maryland's lone goal with 1:41 remaining to play in last year's opening round against Notre Dame. Ellis Welker (Suger Land, Texas) provided the assist that sent the Terps into the second round where they eventually lost to Loyola 1-0 in overtime.
All-Time Series vs. American
Maryland meets American for the 30th time in series history when it hosts the Eagles in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Terps hold a 15-9-5 lead, and have meet American at least once every year for the past 28 years, the longest current streak of any of the Terps non-conference opponents.
Wednesday's game marks the second time Maryland and American are meeting in postseason action. In 1997, American eliminated the Terps 1-0 in the second round at American.
Maryland holds a 6-3-1 advantage in the Cirovski Era at Maryland. Over that time, The Terps are 5-0 at Ludwig Field, with their only losses coming at American. The Last time Maryland lost to American was in 1997 in the NCAA tournament, 1-0.
Terps vs. American
A.J. Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Sumed Ibrahim (Tamale, Ghana) have had the most success among the current Terps in their battles with American. Both redshirt-juniors have scored three career goals against the Eagles, with Sumed netting a hat trick in last year's 5-1 win.
The following Terps have scored one or more points against American in their careers: Sumed Ibrahim (3g, 1a), A.J. Herrera (3g), Seth Stammler (1g), Michael Dello-Russo (2a), Bryan Vitagliano (2a), Clarence Goodson (1a), Siba Mohammed (1a), and Abe Thompson (1a).
You Look Familiar!
Terrapin junior striker Nino Marcantonio (Bethesda, Md.) will see a lot of familiar faces when he takes the field vs. American on Wednesday. Before transferring to Maryland, Marcantonio was an Eagle for two years, earning all-CAA in both 1999 and 2000, CAA Rookie of the Year in 1999, Soccer America all-freshmen team recognition in 1999 and All South-Atlantic Region honors in 2000.
Marcantonio scored 16 goals and added 17 assists during his two-year stint with American.
Winning Ways
Maryland's 17 wins thus far are a program record for victories in a season. Previously the Maryland high was 16 in both 1998, the year the Terps went to the national semifinals, and 1997, when the Terps made it to the ACC finals and the NCAA second round.
ACC Champions!
The Maryland Terrapins won the 2002 ACC Championship with a 3-0 victory over Virginia on Nov. 17 in Cary, N.C. The ACC title was the first for Maryland since the 1996 season when they defeated Virginia 2-0 in Charlottesville for the crown.
Abe Thompson (Fairfax Station, Va.) was named ACC Tournament MVP after netting a hat trick in Maryland's 3-0 win over Virginia in the championship game. Nino Marcantonio (Bethesda, Md.), Domenic Mediate (Southlake, Texas), Noah Palmer (Williamsburg, Va.), and Seth Stammler (Gahanna, Ohio) all earned all-tournament honors with Thompson for their performances.
Terps Ranked First
Maryland is the current No. 1 in the Soccer America poll and is also ranked No. 2 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. The Terps have spent 10 out of the past 11 weeks in the NSCAA's Top 10 and eight out of the past nine weeks in Soccer America's Top 10. Maryland is also No. 3 in the Soccertimes and CollegeSoccerNews polls. Eight of Maryland's opponents this season are ranked in the current NSCAA and Soccer America polls.
UM vs. Ranked Opponents
The ACC championship game against No. 7 Virginia was the ninth time Maryland faced an opponent ranked in the NSCAA's Top 25 this season. With their ACC Championship win, the Terps are now 5-4 against ranked opponents and are 3-3 against Top 10 foes.
Maryland vs. Ranked Opponents In 2002
S1 vs. Kentucky (10/20) L, 1-2
S11 LOYOLA (10/8) W, 3-1
S22 DUKE * (6/20) W, 3-0
S27 at Wake Forest *(4/8) L, 0-3
O12 at Connecticut (6/7) L, 0-2
O27 CLEMSON * (7/6) W, 1-0
N1 at Virginia * (6/13) L, 0-1
N15 vs. Clemson (10/21) W, 4-3 OT 1
N17 vs. Virginia (10/7) W, 3-0 1
1- ACC Tournament in Cary, N.C.
Rankings are NSCAA rankings (MD/Opp.)
Cirovski Reaches 125 at UM, 150 Career Wins
Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski secured his 150th career win on Nov. 6 with Maryland's 1-0 win against Bucknell. The 2002 season marks the 10th year that Cirovski has guided the Terrapin men's soccer program, which he has piloted to a 128-74-9 record during his years in College Park. Cirovski, a 1986 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is in his 12th year overall and has a 154-86-15 career record entering the NCAA tournament. Under Cirovski, the Terrapins have 128 wins, the 2002 ACC championship, a 1998 appearance in the national semifinals, and eight NCAA appearances. Maryland also won the 1996 ACC Championship under Cirovski and he has had numerous Terrapins sign professional contracts in the United States and abroad.
Sumed A Finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy
Maryland forward Sumed Ibrahim has been announced as one of the finalists for the Hermann Trophy, an award which annually recognizes the top collegiate men's and women's soccer players in the country. The announcement makes him the sixth athlete under head coach Sasho Cirovski to be named among the final 15 candidates for the award.
Sumed is the Terps' third-leading scorer this season with seven goals and six assists. Six of his seven goals have been gamewinners for the Terps and he is currently tied for fourth on Maryland's all-time assists list with 21.
UM's MAC/Hermann Trophy Award Finalists Under Cirovski
Keith Beach (1998)
Dan Califf (1999)
Leo Cullen (1996)
Nick Downing (2000)
Sumed Ibrahim (2002)
Taylor Twellman (1999)
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 fourth place all-time with tri-captain Scott Buete and Shane Dougherty (1993-94). All three have 21 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 Scott Buete (1999-Pres.)
21 Shane Dougherty (1993-94)
21 Sumed Ibrahim (1999-Pres.)
7. 19 Randy Merkel (1996-98)
8. 18 Jason Cropley (1996-99)
9. 17 Taylor Twellman (1998-99)
17 Steve Armas (1995-98)
Thompson Rises on Single-Season Charts
Redshirt-sophomore Abe Thompson (Fairfax Station, Va.) is climbing the Maryland list for single-season goals and is at a logjam at No. 10 with 14 goals with Gary Furlong (1986), Cliff Krug (1959), Richard Roe (1961) and Oyton Tertemiz (1961). Thompson is a goal away from the No. 9 spot, where Shane Dougherty (1996) sits with 15 goals.
Maryland's Single-Season Goals Chart
1. 26 Cliff Krug (1960)
2. 20 Rocco Morelli (1968)
3. 19 Rasim Tugberk (1969)
4. 17 Shane Dougherty (1994)
17 Eberhard Klein (1964)
17 Eberhard Klein (1963)
8. 16 Taylor Twellman (1998)
9. 15 Shane Dougherty (1996)
10. 14 Abe Thompson (2002)
14 Gary Furlong (1986)
14 Cliff Krug (1959)
14 Richard Roe (1961)
14 Oyton Tertimez (1961)
On the single season points chart, Thompson is currently eighth with 34 points (17 goals and 7 assists). Thompson is one point away from the No. 7 spot, where Shane Dougherty (1996) sits, and only two points from the No. 6 spot, where Rocco Morelli's 1969 season is.
Maryland's Single-Season Points Chart
1. 52 Cliff Krug (1960)
2. 47 Eberhard Klein (1964)
3. 46 Rocco Morelli (1968)
4. 42 Rasim Tugberk (1970)
5. 40 Taylor Twellman (1998)
6. 38 Rocco Morelli (1969)
7. 36 Shane Dougherty (1996)
8. 34 Abe Thompson (2002)
9. 33 Taylor Twellman (1999)
10. 32 Rasim Tugberk (1970)
Points Aplenty
Entering the postseason, Maryland is not only displaying a talented attack, but a diverse attack, as well. The Terps have spent most of the year in the Top 10 nationally in scoring average and are averaging 2.57 goals per game going into the American game. Five Terrapins have scored five 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.
Here When You Need 'Em
Timing is key in soccer whether it's timing runs to the goal or timing crosses to meet them. For Maryland, Abe Thompson and Sumed Ibrahim have been there when the Terps have needed them most. Responsible for 11 of Maryland's 17 gamewinners, the duo is undoubtedly the pair to watch.
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 as well for 17 games, finishing with an 11-7-1 record.
Honest Abe
The 2002 ACC MVP after posting a hat trick in the championship game vs. Virginia, UM's Abe Thompson is continuing what he started his freshman year when he led the Terrapins in scoring with 31 points. Through 21 games, Thompson has 14 goals and seven assists to lead the Terps in scoring again this year.
The redshirt-sophomore has netted the gamewinner in five games, three times on penalty kicks.
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 twice, the first time for his gamewinner against NC State and the second for his ACC tournament performance.
Stammer Earns Verizon Academic Honors
Maryland tri-captain Seth Stammler (Gahanna, Ohio) has received Verizon Academic All-District honors and third-team national honors after starting every game this season while maintaining a 3.83 grade point average in finance. Stammler is a two-year starter for the Terps and has accumulated four assists this season while anchoring one of the ACC's best defenses. Stammler also earned Virginia Classic and Maryland/FILA Classic all-tournament team accolades, as well as Maryland/FILA Classic Defensive MVP honors and College Soccer News Team of the Week recognition.
