Rematch: Terps Must Beat UCONN to Make Keep NCAA Dream Alive
12/6/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 6, 2002
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Saturday, Dec. 7 ~ 1 p.m. at Ludwig Field (4,000): College Park, Md.
No. 2 Seed Terps (19-4, 4-2 ACC) Vs. No. 7 Seed Connecticut (16-5)
No. 2 seed Maryland hosts No. 7 seed Connecticut in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. on Ludwig Field. The Terps and Huskies met earlier in the season, with UCONN winning 2-0 on their home field. Now, its the Terps turn to host and hopefully turn the tables on the Huskies as a trip to Dallas, Texas, for the College Cup is on the line.
The Maryland vs. UCONN Series
In a series that was previously dormant for six years, Maryland met the Huskies on Oct. 12 of this season in Storrs, falling to UCONN 2-0 in the rain at Marrone Stadium. Maryland still holds the lead 5-2 in the all-time series. Maryland and Connecticut only other meeting in the NCAA Tournament was in 1960 when the Terps beat the Huskies 4-0 at Brooklyn. Maryland went on to lose to Saint Louis 3-2 in the national championship game.
Opponent NCAA Tourney Tails
The rematch with UCONN marks the eighth time in school history that Maryland has met a team both during the regular season and then again during the NCAA tournament. The Terps are 3-4-1 all-time in these rematch situations, with James Madison advancing on penalty kicks in the tie in a 1995 rematch with the Terps. When the Terps begin with a regular season loss, Maryland is 1-4-1 in the NCAA tournaments against such familiar opponents. The last time the Terps were part of an NCAA rematch of a regular season game was last season against Loyola. Maryland played Loyola to a 1-0 loss on Sept. 19 at Ludwig Field before falling in double overtime to the Greyhounds 1-0 on Sept. 19. That game was also played at Ludwig Field.
Terps Soccer America's No. 1 Team
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 ranking by the publication.
Maryland In the Quarterfinals
The Terrapins are in the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1998 when Maryland advanced to the national semifinals. In 1969, UM made it all the way to the semifinals just one year after splitting the crown with Michigan State in 1968. 1960 and 1962 also saw the Terps advance to the NCAA semifinal.
Maryland All-Time In The NCAA Tournament
Maryland enters the 2002 NCAA tournament with a 22-20-1 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 10-7 under head coach Sasho Cirovski in the NCAA Tournament with seven appearances since his arrival in 1993. The Terps made it to the College Cup in 1998 under Cirovski.
Current Terps in the NCAA Tournament
Overall, the current Terps are 3-2 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).
The Terps got off to a good start in this year's tournament after knocking off American 1-0 in the second round on a goal by Domenic Mediate (South Lake, Texas). Abe Thompson (Fairfax Station, Va.) and Nino Marcantonio (Bethesda, Md.) were credited with assists on the score. Mediate struck again in the third round game in overtime against Saint Louis to score the Terps' lone goal and propell them into Saturday's quarterfinal match-up vs. Connecticut.
Individual Terps in the NCAA Tournament
Five current Terrapins have scored points during their careers in the NCAA Tournament. Tri-captain Scott Buete (Bowie, Md.) 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. Domenic Mediate lifted the Terps to the 1-0 second round victory when he found the net in the 53rd minute of action. Abe Thompson and Nino Marcantonio each picked up assists on the play for the Terps. Mediate scored again in overtime vs. Saint Louis in the third round to boost his NCAA goal total to two and send the Terps to the quarterfinals.
Winning Ways
Maryland's 19 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.
Don't Mess With Texans
Sophomore striker Domenic Mediate wants to show the Terps his home state, and is doing everything he can to make that dream a reality. Mediate, a native of Southlake, Texas, has scored both of the Terps' goals in the NCAA Tournament thus far and has five game-winning goals. Mediate has either scored a goal or had an assist in the past six Terrapin games. The streak began on Nov. 8 with his golden goal against Mount St. Mary's, continued into the ACC tournament, and is current through Mediate's last golden goal against Saint Louis to advance the Terps to their meeting with UCONN Saturday. The Terps have gone into overtime three times this year with Mediate scoring two of the golden goals for Maryland to grab the win.
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 was named ACC Tournament MVP after netting a hat trick in Maryland's 3-0 win over Virginia in the championship game. Nino Marcantonio, Domenic Mediate, Noah Palmer (Williamsburg, Va.), and Seth Stammler (Gahanna, Ohio) all earned all-tournament honors with Thompson for their performances.
Terps in the rankings
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 NCAA quarterfinal game against No. 8 UCONN will mark the 10th time the No. 2 Terps will meet an opponent ranked in the NSCAA's Top 25 this season. With their ACC Championship win over then-No. 7 Virginia, 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
D7 CONNECTICUT(2/8) 1 p.m.2
1- ACC Tournament in Cary, N.C.
2- NCAA Quarterfinals in College Park, Md.
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 130-74-9 record during his years in College Park. Cirovski, a 1986 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is in his 12th year overall and has a 156-86-15 career record entering the NCAA tournament. Under Cirovski, the Terrapins have 129 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' fourth-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, 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 Sumed Ibrahim (1999-Pres.)
21 Shane Dougherty (1993-94)
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 is climbing the Maryland list for single-season goals mark. Thompson is currently tied for the No. 9 spot with Shane Dougherty (1996). Each of whom have tallied 15 goals respectively. Thompson enters today's game just one goal shy of the No. 8 spot where Taylor Twellman (1998) currently sits with 16 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)
15 Abe Thompson (2002)
On the single season points chart, Thompson is currently eighth with 35 points (17 goals and 8 assists). Thompson is one point away from the No. 7 spot, where Shane Dougherty (1996) sits, and only three 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. 35 Abe Thompson (2002)
9. 33 Taylor Twellman (1999)
10. 32 Rasim Tugberk (1970)
WMUC To Broadcast NCAA Quarters
WMUC, the student radio station for the University of Maryland, is broadcasting the 2002 NCAA third 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.
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 2.40 goals per game going into the Connecticut game. Five Terrapins have scored six or more goals this season and 20 or more points. 13 different Terps have found 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, Sumed Ibrahim, and Domenic Mediate have been there when the Terps have needed them most. Responsible for 16 of Maryland's 19 gamewinners, the trio is undoubtedly who to watch when the game is on the line.
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.
This season, sophomore midfielder Domenic Mediate earned his stripes in Maryland's thrilling 1-0 NCAA second round victory over American. The score was 10th of the season for the Lone Star State native. Abe Thompson has been one of the Terps most consistent performers in 2002 and it was evident was once again against American. The score notched at zero, Thompson and teammate Nino Marcantonio combined to find Mediate for the game winner. The assist was the eighth and ninth of the season for dynamic duo.
Super Sumed
Few have found the answer for the Terp Sumed Ibrahim, who started the 2002 season with a bang and is one of the top-scoring Terps this season. 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 21 points in 23 games and a team-leading six gamewinners. Last season, Sumed was Maryland's top scorer with 31 points on nine goals and 13 assists.
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 23 games, Thompson has 14 goals and eight 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 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.
Buete Earns Honors
Terrapin redshirt-junior Scott Buete picked up two honors for his game-winning goal against No. 6 Clemson On Oct. 26 at Ludwig Field. Buete was named co-ACC player of the week as well as being picked to the College Soccer News Team of the Week honors. Maryland's Buete shared ACC honors with North Carolina's Ryan Kneipper.
Buete redirected the game-winning goal to lift the Terps over No. 6 Clemson 1-0. The native of Bowie, Md., recorded his second goal of the season with 4:17 remaining in the game. He now has 11 points this season off two goals and seven assists.
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 then eight-game old season and second ACC win. Goodson has three goals and four assists this season for Maryland.
Stammler Gets Honors
The Defensive MVP of the Maryland/FILA Classic, Seth Stammler 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 tourney 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 VCU.
Pensky and Former Cav Causey Join Terps
There are two new faces on the Terrapin sideline this season in Brian Pensky and Jeff Causey. Pensky was most recently at Loyola, where he was an assistant coach for the Greyhounds' women's soccer team. Pensky also served a stint at George Washington as an assistant and brings a wealth of club and ODP coaching from both the men's and women's side.
A Virginia graduate, Causey was on 1996 MLS Champions DC United, and most recently played for the New England Revolution. At UVa, Causey earned third-team All-American accolades in goal in 1993, the same year the Cavaliers won their third NCAA and ACC championship in a row. Causey still holds several of Virginia's goalkeeping records including the single-season record for saves (88 saves in 1990) and the career records for saves (249), shutouts (27), minutes played (7,050) and games played (77).
The duo replaces Sasho Cirovski's longtime assistant coach Jeff Rohrman, who left in the spring to take a head coaching job at Wisconsin.
