Dec. 4, 2003

College Park, Md. - In the 11 months following Maryland's heartbreaking loss to UCLA in the national semifinals, the Terrapins could have wilted and dwelled on a golden opportunity that got away.

In the 10 days following Maryland's heartbreaking shootout loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament finals, the Terps could have easily hung their heads and moped about a title that wasn't to be.

But they never did. Heading into this Saturday's 1 p.m. match with Saint Louis at Ludwig Field, this Terrapin team is having fun and is focused on the task at hand. The practices have been "short and sweet," and they are energized and excited about this weekend's NCAA Quarterfinal game.

"The goal right after the ACC Tournament was to get the vitality, the zest back into playing and get the smiles back on their faces," head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "This team is very loose and they are really enjoying playing. I have to kick them off the field. They are very focused and have been waiting for the NCAA Tournament for 11 months. This is right where they want to be and they are enjoying it."

"We are confident, excited. It seems like too long until we get to play," senior Nino Marcantonio said. "We know what we need to do because we did it last year. The main thing is we need to get healthy. We are just going to stay focused on our goal."

Marcantonio, who has provided the game-winning assists in both of Maryland NCAA Tournament matches this season, has seen more action due to the injuries to the Terps up front. Despite seeing more minutes, Marcantonio's approach has remained the same.

"My approach is really the same, I just try to make the plays," he added. "I have been fortunate the past couple of games to get some assists."

Like Domenic Mediate last season, Jason Garey is writing himself as this season's postseason goal-scoring specialist. Mediate, who is out for the remainder of the year with a broken collarbone, scored four of the Terps' five postseason goals in 2002. Garey has two goals in two games, including the game-winner against Akron.

"Any time you can score goals and help the team win, especially in the NCAA Tournament, it's big," the Gonzalez, La., native said. However, Garey knows he can't do it alone. "I'm happy to step up and score goals, but it's important to get Abe (Thompson) back and other people scoring because I felt like last game there were three or four defenders crowding me, so that may open up opportunities for other people."

With the team's goals so close, it's tough not to take a peek up and look at the summit. However, senior captain Seth Stammler knows that if you do that, you could very easily slip on a rock on the mountain.

"The easiest way to focus is that we don't have to worry about the Final Four if we don't concentrate on Saint Louis," Stammler said. "From here on out we can't look beyond the next game. I think everyone is really focused on Saint Louis.

"I think we are opening the field and getting up and down, having short and effective practices," he added. "I think everyone is in a good mood. We are looking forward to getting this game played and getting a good result."

Cirovski tries to balance a focus on the opponent and his own team's training. While the team is made aware of particular personnel and strengths and weaknesses; soccer is not like basketball where you suit your game plan to the opponent's zone or man-to-man defense, so the Terps spend most of their practice time refining their own execution.

"We have the philosophy of respect everyone and fear no one, and we find the right balance of giving them the right doses of information while keeping a focus on our own preparation," Cirovski said. "I think our group is pretty familiar with most of our opponents and does their own homework in many ways. I think mentally, physically and tactically we are ready to go."