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Nov. 25, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. The second-ranked Maryland men's soccer team begins play in the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m. at Ludwig Field against Old Dominion.
The Terps advanced to the national semifinals a year ago, and return all 11 starters from last year's squad. Maryland (17-2-1) returns to the field after a 10-day layoff after the ACC Tournament. The Terps fell in a shootout to Virginia, 7-6 penalty kicks, after playing to a 1-1 draw for the conference title.
The Monarchs advanced to the second round after a 6-3 win over NC State. ODU scored two first half goals and then tacked on two more early in the second half to pull away from the Wolfpack.
NCAA Tournament Notes
* The Terps are 6-5-1 all-time against Old Dominion. Maryland and Old Dominion have never met in the NCAA Tournament.
* Maryland is making its 23rd appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Terps are 23-21-2 all-time and earned a co-national title with Michigan State in 1968.
* Sasho Cirovski is making his ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in 11 seasons as head coach of the Terps. Cirovski is 11-8 in the NCAA Tournament at Maryland.
* Maryland is 7-1-1 against teams in the NCAA Tournament this year. The Terps own two wins over NC State, a tie against Virginia (although they lost in penalty kicks) and lost to North Carolina. The Terrapins are the only team to defeat top-seeded UCLA this season.
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* Maryland returns to action after 10 days off following the ACC Tournament.
* Junior Abe Thompson, who missed eight games this season with a foot injury, played in both of Maryland's ACC Tournament matches.
* Including Wednesday's match, Maryland has had to use 11 different starting lineups in 21 games this season.
* Maryland and Old Dominion have not played since 1996.
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* The Terps are the tournament's second seed for the second consecutive season.
* Maryland is 24-1 at home over the past two seasons, including three NCAA Tournament wins a year ago.
* The Terp roster has a combined total of 81 games of NCAA Tournament experience.
A.J. Herrera,
Sumed Ibrahim and
Scott Buete have each played in seven NCAA Tournament games at Maryland. There are only two players on the active roster that do not have tournament experience.
* Maryland's shootout against Virginia was just the second in school history. The other came in the NCAA Tournament against James Madison in 1995 (which the Terps lost, 4-3).
Sumed Heating Up
* Senior midfielder Sumed Ibrahim had a terrific start to the 2002 season, but struggled toward the end of the season. This season, it appears to be the exact opposite. Sumed battled injuries during the early portion of the season, but is showcasing his talents now that he is healthy again.
* In the last 13 matches, the Hermann Trophy semifinalist has scored seven goals and tallied five assists for 19 points.
* Sumed is living up to the role of the difference-maker, as two of his goals were game-winners (vs. Wake Forest and Penn State), and he assisted on the deciding goals against Georgetown, Penn and Ohio State. He is now tied for seventh all-time in points at Maryland with 76.
Garey In Gear
* Sophomore Jason Garey has done a more than adequate job of filling in for All-America candidate Abe Thompson. Garey is a tremendous scoring threat up front, constantly working to get in position in front of the net to make a play.
* He leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and three assists for 23 points, far surpassing his totals as a freshman (3g, 1a, 7 pts.).
Noah Notes
* Junior goalkeeper Noah Palmer needs just three more shutouts to break the Maryland record for shutouts in a career, set by Dom Macina from 1985-1988. Macina had 27 shutouts for the Terps, while Palmer has amassed 24 so far in his career.
* Palmer is also on pace to break Macina's school record for goals-against average (GAA) in a season. Macina had a GAA of just 0.68 in 1985, yet Palmer's average is currently 0.47.
* Palmer recorded four shutouts in five NCAA Tournament matches last year. His career GAA in the NCAA Tournament is 0.47 (three goals allowed in 570 minutes).
Break Out the Dom, It's Tourney Time
* Junior forward Domenic Mediate was one of the main reasons Maryland advanced to the College Cup a season ago. The Southlake, Texas, native scored four of the team's five NCAA Tournament goals last season, including game-winners against American, Saint Louis and UConn.
Gimmie Two!
* When Maryland scores two goals in a game, you might as well chalk it up as a win for the Terps. Over the past two seasons, Maryland has not lost a match when it has scored at least two goals.
* During that span, the Terps have won 30 in a row when scoring two goals (and tied once to Wake Forest on September 30, 2001).
* The last time the Terrapins fell after scoring two goals was October 28, 2000, against Clemson.
Gimmie One!
* Maryland is 17-0-1 when scoring at least one goal this season. The only blemish to that record came in the ACC finals when the Cavaliers rallied to bring the match to a 1-1 draw.
* Both of Maryland's losses this season have come on 1-0 scores to North Carolina and Bucknell.
Maryland Falls In ACC Finals
* Despite a terrific effort playing a man down for the last 35 minutes, Maryland fell short of its bid to win back-to-back ACC Tournament titles. The Terps lost in a shootout to Virginia, 7-6.
* Maryland struck first when A.J. Herrera converted on a penalty kick early in the second half. However, Virginia evened the match when John Hartman's shot got through traffic and found the back of the net.
* The Terps had to play a man down for the last 35 minutes after Kenney Bertz was handed a red card. Despite the disadvantage, Maryland still was able to make offensive runs, but were halted by Virginia's Ryan Burke. Burke, the tournament MVP, was also oustanding in the shootout helping the Wahoos to the victory.
Terps Earn Conference Recognition
* Maryland men's soccer coach Sasho Cirovski was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coach of the Year for guiding the Terps to a 16-2 record and the regular season ACC title. The award is the first for Cirovski, who is in his 11th season at Maryland.
* In addition to that honor, seven Terrapin players earned All-ACC recognition, including three on the first team: Scott Buete, Seth Stammler and Sumed Ibrahim.
Buete, a senior midfielder from Bowie, Md., was a second team All-ACC pick a season ago. This season, Buete has scored three goals and tallied three assists and proved to be one of the top two-way players in the nation.
Stammler, a senior defender from Gahanna, Ohio, also moved from the ACC Second Team last season onto the first team this year. Stammler, who has one goal and one assist from his center back position, has helped the Terps record 11 shutouts this season.
Sumed, a senior midfielder from Tamale, Ghana, became just the eighth player in Maryland history to be a three-time member of the first team. He is second on the team in scoring with seven goals and five assists for 17 points this season.
* Goalkeeper Noah Palmer, defender Clarence Goodson and forwards Domenic Mediate and Abe Thompson earned All-ACC Second Team recognition. The seven All-ACC selections are the most in school history for Maryland. Six players earned all-conference honors in 1968.
Familiar Faces
* The Terps' starting lineup from the 2002 ACC Tournament and College Cup returns intact, although injuries may force the lineups to be adjusted slightly. In addition to having all 11 starters from last year's championship team, the Terps also return 12 reserves. The Terrapins lost just one player from last season and added freshman goaltender Keegan Riseling to round out the roster.
The Last Time...
... won the ACC regular season title: 1971
... won the NCAA title: 1968
... lost a home game: Nov. 4, 2003 (vs. Bucknell, 1-0)
... gave up two goals: Oct. 8, 2003 (vs. Georgetown, 3-2)
... gave up three goals: Nov. 15, 2002 (vs. Clemson, a 4-3 win)
... scored four goals: Oct. 12, 2003 (vs. UConn, a 4-0 win)
... scored five goals or more: Aug. 30, 2002 (vs. Rhode Island, a 8-0 win)
... went to overtime: Nov. 16, 2003 vs. Virginia
... won in overtime: Dec. 1, 2002, vs. Saint Louis (1-0)
... lost in overtime: Nov. 25, 2001, vs. Loyola
... tied: Nov. 16, 2003 vs. Virginia (1-1)
Balanced Attack
* While Maryland does feature some star players, one of the team's biggest strengths is its depth. If a team tries to take away Abe Thompson or Sumed Ibrahim, Jason Garey, Nino Marcantonio and Domenic Mediate are more than capable of finding the back of the net.
* Ten different players have netted goals for the Terps this season, and 15 players (including all 11 regulars) have notched at least one assist.
Front Runners
* When George Mason scored the first goal in the game on Wednesday, Sept. 24, it marked the first time all season (637 minutes) that the Terps had trailed in a game. Maryland trailed in the contest until the first minute of the second half and went on to win 5-1.
* Against North Carolina, the Terrapins fell behind (and remained behind) after North Carolina scored in the 68th minute. Penn became the third team to grab a lead against Maryland, but could only hold on to it for 23 minutes before the Terps tied the match. Bucknell scored in the second minute of its victory at Ludwig Field and made the early marker stand up.
* Maryland has trailed in just 171 of the 1,820 total minutes, or just over nine percent of the entire season.
Terp Forwards Feared
* The Terp front line was recently named as one of the most feared in the nation according to CollegeSoccerNews.com. The website commented that, "The Terps are loaded with talent. Juniors Abe Thompson and Domenic Mediate are prolific scorers. Nino Marcantonio, Jason Garey and Erwin Diaz add strength and skill to a group up-top that can make a case for being the best in the nation. Maryland plays a style of soccer that is pleasing to those who like to attack."
Shut 'em Down, Shut 'em Out
* While Maryland certainly has some prolific scorers, the team can't lose if it doesn't give up a goal. The back line of team captain Seth Stammler, Clarence Goodson, Chris Lancos and Kenney Bertz--recognized by College Soccer News as one of the top back lines in the NCAA--have been nearly impenetrable all season.
* The group allows an average of eight shots a game, but more impressively, just over three shots on goal per game. The Terps have shut out 11 of 20 opponents and are threatening the team record for shutouts in a season (13) that the unit set last season.
* Only 10 goals have been scored on the Terrapins in 1,820 minutes of action.
PK's Are OK
* Maryland is a perfect 6-for-6 on penalty kick attempts this season. A.J. Herrera is 3-3, while Nino Marcantonio has converted two and Abe Thompson has accounted for the other.
* In addition, three of those penalty kicks have turned out to be the game-winners. Thompson's PK against UCLA proved to be the difference in that matchup, while Herrera's conversion against NC State was the deciding goal in that match. Marcantonio's PK was all Maryland needed in a 4-0 win over UConn.
* However, Maryland was defeated 7-6 in the ACC finals in a shootout. After the Virginia and Maryland each converted on 3-of-5 attempts, the Cavaliers prevailed in sudden-death PK's.
Ball Control
* Maryland has been tremendous at controlling possession of the ball and dictating play through the regular season. In addition to the stout back line, the Terps' forwards and midfielders rarely give up the ball and constantly put pressure on opposing teams.
* In the 20 matches, Maryland outshot its opponents by a whopping 385-160 margin and have not been out-shot in a game all season.
Honor Roll
* Several Maryland players earned tournament, conference and national honors so far this season. Here is a rundown of the accolades earned by Terrapin players this season.
*Scott Buete: Diadora Challenge All-Tournament Team (8/31/03); Maryland/adidas Soccer Classic Defensive MVP (9/7/03); College Soccer News National Player of the Week (9/8/03); Soccer America Team of the Week (9/10/03, 11/10/03); First Team All-ACC; All-ACC Tournament
*Seth Stammler: Diadora Challenge Tournament MVP (8/31/03); Maryland/adidas Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team (9/7/03); College Soccer News Team of the Week (9/1/03); Soccer America Team of the Week (9/10/03); Academic All-District II Men's Soccer Team; First Team All-ACC; All-ACC Tournament; Verizon Academic All-American First Team
* Sumed Ibrahim: Soccer America Team of the Week (10/1/03); College Soccer News Team of the Week (9/29); Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week (9/30); First Team All-ACC; All-ACC Tournament
* Abe Thompson: ACC Player of the Week (9/7/03); Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week (9/22/03); Second Team All-ACC
* A.J. Herrera: Diadora Challenge All-Tournament Team (8/31/03); Maryland/adidas Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team (9/7/03)
* Ian Rodway: Diadora Challenge All-Tournament Team (8/31/03); Maryland/adidas Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team (9/7/03)
* Clarence Goodson: Soccer America Team of the Week (9/17/03); Second Team All-ACC; All-ACC Tournament
* Kenney Bertz: College Soccer News Team of the Week (10/12/03, 10/26/03); Soccer America Team of the Week (10/27/03)
* Noah Palmer:Second Team All-ACC
* Domenic Mediate: Academic All-District II Men's Soccer Team; Second Team All-ACC
Living Large At Ludwig
* The Terps completed their first-ever perfect home record in 2002, compiling a 10-0-0 record. Maryland went on to win three more games at Ludwig Field in the NCAA Tournament as it advanced to the College Cup. Maryland had won 23 straight at Ludwig, with its last loss prior to the Bucknell defeat coming November 25, 2001, to Loyola.
* Overall, head coach Sasho Cirovski's teams are an impressive 76-26-4 at Ludwig since the facility opened in 1995. For this season, Ludwig has a dramatic new look with bleachers behind each goal and signs that extend around the perimeter of the field to give it a true soccer stadium feel.
* The Terrapins were fifth in the nation in total attendance (19,984) and seventh in the nation last season in average attendance (1,537), and have drawn an average of 2,018 so far this season. Ludwig Field has had two crowds of over 3,000 people this season: the record-setting 6,143 crowd for UCLA and the 3,647 fans for Wake Forest.
Rocking The Ranked
* Three Terrapin opponents are currently ranked in the nation's top 25 according to the NSCAA poll. However, as many as seven were in the Top 25 poll at one point this year. So far, Maryland is 3-1 against ranked opponents in 2003, notching victories over No. 15 Furman, No.1 UCLA and No. 16 Wake Forest, but losing to No. 5 North Carolina.
Thompson Climbs Career Charts
* Just a junior, striker Abe Thompson is making his mark on some of Maryland's significant offensive career records. The Hermann Trophy candidate is seventh all-time in career goals (31) and sixth in points (79). Cliff Crug is Maryland's all-time leading goal scorer with 45 and Eberhard Klein is the Terps' leading point scorer (109).
* Thompson also has 17 assists in his career, which means he is now among the top 10 in all offensive categories at Maryland.
A Little Help From My Friends...
*Scoring a goal is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports, and the Maryland soccer team is fortunate to have three players that make life a little easier for the forwards in Scott Buete, Sumed Ibrahim and A.J. Herrera.
* All three players are among the best in Terrapin history in dishing out assists, with Sumed ranking third with 26 career helpers, Buete ranking fourth all-time with 24 and Herrera's team high seven assists this season has vaulted him into sixth all-time with 21 career assists.
* In addition to those three, Abe Thompson is currently ninth on that list with 17 career helpers.
So We Meet Again...
* With its match against UConn, Maryland faced three of its four opponents from last year's NCAA Tournament in the regular season (UCLA and American were the others). The Terps are 3-0 in the rematches this season.
* This season, Maryland has played NC State and Virginia twice. The Terps are 1-0-1 in rematches this season.
Terp Lineups
* With injuries along the Maryland front line and midfield, Terp head coach Sasho Cirovski has been forced to use 10 different starting lineups in the Terps' 20 games. Here are the different starting lineups the Terps have utilized and their records in those games:
* Furman, UCLA, NC State, Duke, Wake, North Carolina (5-1):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Thompson, Mediate
*Clemson, Virginia, Bucknell, NC State (ACC), Virginia (ACC) (3-1-1):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Garey, Mediate
* Butler, George Mason (2-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Thompson, Garey, Mediate
* American (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Garey, Marcantonio, Mediate
* Loyola (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Thompson, Garey, Mediate
* Georgetown (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Marcantonio, Mediate
* UConn (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Garey, Vitagliano, Mediate
* Penn State (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Buete, Goodson, Garey, Marcantonio, Mediate
* Penn (1-0):
Salvati, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Lancos, Sumed, Buete, Goodson, Garey, Marcantonio, Mediate
* Ohio State (1-0):
Palmer, Stammler, Rodway, Bertz, Sumed, Herrera, Buete, Goodson, Garey, Vitagliano, Mediate
Stammler, Buete Team Captains
* Senior defender Seth Stammler and Scott Buete are the team captains for 2003.
* Stammler, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, was a second team All-ACC selection in 2002, as well as earning All-ACC Tournament honors.
* Buete, a native of Bowie, Md., was a third team All-American in 2002 and is the team's catalyst in the midfield. This will be the second season that the players have served as captains.
Head Coach Sasho Cirovski
* Maryland mentor Sasho Cirovski, the 2003 ACC Coach of the Year, has taken the Maryland men's soccer program to unparalled heights during his 11 seasons with the Terp program. Within his time at College Park, he has guided the Maryland squad to its only two ACC Tournament titles, the College Cup twice and eight NCAA Tournament berths to go along with numerous school records.
* Cirovski, a 1985 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has amassed a 174-89-16 record in 13 seasons of coaching Division I soccer, including a 148-77-10 record at Maryland. He is the second-winningest coach in school history, trailing only legendary coach Doyle Royal.
* In addition to all of the success of his Terrapin teams over the past 11 seasons, Cirovski has spent a great deal of time and energy making Ludwig Field into one of the most fan-friendly places in the nation, with seating very close to the field.
E-Mail Updates
*For all results, scores and releases on the men's soccer team, sign up to be on the e-mail distribution list by sending an e-mail to Adam Zundell (azundell@umd.edu) with "Men's Soccer Info" in the subject line.
