Defending ACC Champ Men's Soccer Terps Release 2003 Schedule
4/8/2003 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Complete Release and Schedule in PDF Format
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April 8, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - - An extremely challenging schedule awaits the 2002 ACC champion Terps this fall, including 14 opponents from last year's NCAA tournament and a potential for Maryland to play two of the other three teams from last year's College Cup in the opening two weekends. The Terrapins are coming off a program-best 20-5 campaign, including a run to the national semifinals last season where UCLA eliminated the Terps 2-1. The Bruins are Maryland's first home opponent this year on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
"It's an incredible schedule and I can't wait to get started," said head coach Sasho Cirovski. "We return a veteran squad who felt very unfulfilled at the end of last season. We've got everything on this schedule- great ACC rivalries, great local and regional rivalries, and great national programs. Our fans should be in for a treat. Our home opener against UCLA will set the all-time attendance record at Ludwig Field and should set the theme for a great environment at home throughout the year."
Maryland's only scheduled tune-up, for now, will be a match against D.C. United on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at Ludwig Field. The Terps' regular season schedule begins in Omaha, Neb., at the home of College Cup participant Creighton's tournament on Aug. 29 and 31. Maryland meets Furman to begin tourney action on Aug. 29 and continues Aug. 31 vs. either Butler or Creighton, depending on the first round results with the winners meeting on day two of the tournament at noon (CT). That tournament will be the first of two back-to-back weekends featuring two College Cup teams, with Maryland hosting 2002 national champion UCLA, local rival Virginia and 2002 NCAA competitor American in the fourth annual Maryland Soccer Classic. The Terps' tilt against the Bruins will be the rematch Maryland players and fans have waited for since UCLA ended the Terrapins' season last year in Dallas. That game is the second of two on the opening night of the tournament, Sept.5, at 7 p.m. Classic action continues on Sept. 7 at noon and 2:30 p.m. with Virginia and UCLA starting the day and Maryland and American finishing it with a regional match.
The always spirited Loyola/Maryland series continues on Sept. 10 at Ludwig Field followed by Maryland's ACC opener with NC State on Sept. 14 at home. The Terps hit the road for two games, heading to Virginia Commonwealth on Sept. 18 and Duke on Sept. 21. Maryland then hosts another Mid-Atlantic foe in George Mason on Sept. 24 and welcomes Wake Forest to College Park on Sept. 27.
Conference play continues for the 2002 ACC champion Terps at North Carolina on Oct. 5 before facing four-straight non-conference foes. Georgetown and Connecticut, who the Terps' eliminated to advance to last year's College Cup, visit Ludwig Field on Oct. 8 and 12, respectively. A mid-week contest vs. 2002 quarterfinal participant Penn State takes place at Hershey, Pa., on Oct. 16, with Penn meeting the Terps on Oct. 21 at Ludwig Field for the first time since 1969.
Clemson is the final away contest on Maryland's regular season schedule on Oct. 26 with Virginia coming to College Park on Oct. 31 to continue an always-intense rivalry between the regional and conference foes. Bucknell and Ohio State at home on Nov. 4 and 7 round-out a 12-game home slate for Maryland before it travels to Cary, N.C., for the ACC tournament again, the site where the Terps took it all last year.
NCAA competition begins on Nov. 21 and 22 at campus sites, and concludes at Columbus Crew Stadium on Dec. 12 and 14 with the College Cup.
