Terps Make Third Straight College Cup Appearance

Dec. 8, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The third-seeded Maryland Terrapins will make their third straight appearance at the College Cup Friday, Dec. 10, against defending national champion Indiana at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. (EST) and the game will be aired on ESPN2 at noon (EST) on Saturday, Dec. 11.

After a bye in the first round, Maryland (17-5-2) defeated Hofstra, 4-0, in the second round and then played 14th-seeded Creighton to a 0-0 tie before coming away with a thrilling 5-4 edge in penalty kicks to advance to the quarterfinals. The Terps then eliminated St. John's -- the team that defeated Maryland in last year's national semifinals -- by a score of 1-0. Maryland has not allowed a goal in its three NCAA Tournament games this season. Indiana has also shut out all three of its NCAA Tournament opponents.

Indiana is back in the College Cup after defeating Tulsa 4-0 in the quarterfinals. The Hoosiers also defeated Boston College and Michigan en route to the semifinals.

The Terps are 2-5 all-time in national semifinal games. Maryland's last semifinal win was in 1968, the year it tied Michigan State for its only NCAA title.

Indiana leads the all-time series against the Terps, 2-0. The two teams met in 1999 (Indiana won 1-0) and in 2000 (Indiana won 2-1 in overtime).

The winner of Maryland-Indiana will face the winner of Duke-UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 12, in the NCAA Finals. The game will be at 4 p.m. (EST) on ESPN2.

Scouting the Maryland Terrapins

After its first four-game winless streak since the 1993 season in the middle of the year, the Terps have roared back winning 12 of their last 15 games ... the team is headlined by its prolific offense, which has scored 60 goals this season (second-most in Terp history), but its defense has been the story of late shutting out seven of its last nine opponents ... junior Jason Garey is having one of the top seasons all-time at Maryland, scoring 21 goals and adding nine assists for 51 points ... with his next point, he will tie Cliff Krug for the most points in a season at Maryland (52) ... senior Abe Thompson, Maryland's all-time leader in points with 111, has 11 goals and seven assists for 29 points ... Thompson and Garey are semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy ... senior midfielder Domenic Mediate, Maryland's fastest player, is one of the most dangerous players in NCAA Tournament action scoring four game-winning goals and one game-winning assist in Maryland's last nine NCAA games ... senior goalkeeper Noah Palmer, who has started in goal in each of Maryland's last two College Cup appearances, is Maryland's all-time leader in career shutouts with 34 ... since the Terps' Oct. 14 meeting against Penn State when Palmer and Maryland allowed a career-high four goals, the team has allowed an average of just 0.49 goals per game (12 games) ... midseason, the Terps re-vamped their back line moving Chris Lancos from the middle to right back, allowing Lancos to help push the Terp offense forward with his long ball passing ... Michael Dello-Russo joined Kenney Bertz in the middle, and David Glaudemans took Dello-Russo's spot at left back, helping to tighten up Maryland's defensive efforts ... senior midfielder Ian Rodway, one of the team's most underrated players, starts Maryland possessions by winning a ton of balls in the midfield ... freshman midfielder Stephen King has started every game for the Terps this year and has seven goals (including three game-winners) and five assists ... freshman Maurice Edu, a native of Fontana, Calif., missed 10 games during the season recovering from surgery on his torn miniscus but has returned to action for the Terps in the NCAA Tournament ... he shares the right midfield spot with A.J. Godbolt, who came off the bench to score the game-winner against St. John's in the NCAA Quarterfinals ... senior Jason Arnold, freshmen Kevin Reiman and Eric Brunner are the first players off the Maryland bench ... Maryland is 10-0 when leading at the half and 14-1 when scoring first.

More NCAA Tournament Notes

Maryland is making its 24th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Terps are 28-22-3 all-time and earned a co-national title with Michigan State in 1968.

Sasho Cirovski is making his 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament in 12 seasons as head coach of the Terps. Cirovski is 16-8-2 in the NCAA Tournament at Maryland and has led the Terps to four College Cup appearances (1998, 2002-04).

Maryland has a 7-4-1 record against teams in the NCAA Tournament this year. Of the three teams remaining, Maryland has only faced Duke this season (a 2-1 Blue Devil win on Sept. 24).

The Terps are a top-three seed for the third straight season.

Against St. John's, the Terps downed the Red Storm 1-0 in front of the second-largest crowd in Ludwig Field history with 4,404 fans in attendance ... A.J. Godbolt's diving header was the difference; it was his second goal of the season (and second career goal) and his first since Sept. 5 ... the Terp defense allowed just seven shots and only one on goal ... Noah Palmer recorded his school-record 34th shutout (and eighth in NCAA Tournament action).

Against Creighton, the Terps came away with a 5-4 win in PK's to advance ... the shootout was just Maryland's second in NCAA Tournament action ... the only other time it was in a shootout was in 1995 when James Madison defeated the Terps 4-3 in PK's ... the Terps have gone to PK's two other times (both at the ACC Tournament), losing both times ... Sasho Cirovski is now 1-2 in penalty kick shootouts at Maryland ... Noah Palmer also forced three misses in the penalty kick action to help the Terps move on. Palmer is 1-1 in PK shootouts (the loss coming in last year's ACC Finals against Virginia) ... the Terps were shut out for just the second time this season. It was Maryland's first scoreless tie since 1997 (against Virginia), and was just the third scoreless tie under coach Sasho Cirovski ... converting PK's for Maryland were Abe Thompson, Domenic Mediate, Stephen King, Jason Arnold and Maurice Edu.

Against Hofstra, Domenic Mediate scored two goals to help Maryland to the 4-0 win. Mediate has scored six NCAA Tourney goals in his career, four of which have been game-winners ... junior defender Chris Lancos had two assists against Hofstra, running his total to 10 for the year, tying him for seventh all-time for a single season ... Jason Garey scored a goal for the fourth straight game against the Pride ... Maryland midfielder Maurice Edu returned to the Maryland lineup against Hofstra for the first time since Oct. 10 against North Carolina.

The "D" Is The Difference

The Terp defense has returned to its stifling form. The back line of Michael Dello-Russo, Kenney Bertz, Chris Lancos, David Glaudemans, along with midfielder Ian Rodway and reserve Eric Brunner, has frustrated opposing offenses and given Maryland offensive chances by possessing the ball.

In the last nine games, the Terps are giving up just 0.43 goals per game. Maryland is forcing its opponents to make great individual efforts in those games, allowing just two assists during that span and goalkeeper Noah Palmer has seven shutouts during that span.

In three NCAA Tournament games this season, the Terps have yet to allow a goal and are surrendering just over seven shots and (two on goal) per game.

Goalin' Garey

Jason Garey is producing one of the most prolific seasons in Terrapin history. (See career and single season records on the right-hand side.)

Garey's 21 goals this season are a career high, and rank as the second-highest single season total at Maryland. Only a junior, he is already sixth on the all-time list for career goals with 36.

His 51 points this season are second-most in a season. He is just the second player in Terrapin history to tally at least 50 points in a season.

Maryland is 12-1-1 in games when Garey scores a goal.

As of Nov. 14, Garey led the nation in total goals and points. At that time, he was third nationally in goals per game and points per game.

Recently at the College Cup

Last season at the College Cup, Maryland out-shot St. John's 24-9 but ended up on the short end of a 1-0 decision against the Red Storm ... SJU earned its goal when a foul was called on Noah Palmer in the box and Sebastian Alvarado-Ralph converted the ensuing penalty kick at 34:18 ... the Terps forced St. John's goalkeeper Bill Gaudette to make nine saves on the game.

Two seasons ago against UCLA, the deciding goal again came on a penalty kick with just over eight minutes to play as the Terps lost to the Bruins, 2-1 ... Sumed Ibrahim scored Maryland's only goal in the 81st minute ... the penalty kick was awarded when Palmer got tied up in the box with a Bruin player ... Maryland out-shot the Bruins 14-10 for the game.

In 1998, Maryland lost to Stanford 1-0 ... Maryland out-shot the Cardinal 14-8 in that game ... the Terps had a goal that was disallowed ... the game-winner came in the 40th minute.

Thompson Maryland's All-Time Points Leader

Abe Thompson became Maryland's all-time leader in points with his penalty kick against Clemson. The goal gave him 110 points for his career, moving him past Cliff Krug who played from 1958-60. He currently has 111 points.

Thompson also ranks second for career goals (43) and fourth for career assists (25).

Thompson returned to the lineup on Oct. 31 against Clemson after missing five games with a knee/hamstring injury.

Five Terps Earn All-ACC Honors

The Maryland Terrapins, who finished second in the ACC during the regular season, placed four players on the league's two all-conference teams. Jason Garey, Domenic Mediate and Abe Thompson were named to the first team, while goalkeeper Noah Palmer was honored with second team recognition. Freshman Stephen King was named to the league's All-Freshman team.

Maryland tied ACC regular season champ Wake Forest for the most honorees.

ACC Tournament Notebook

Maryland's bid for the ACC Tournament title was dashed by Virginia for the second consecutive season as the Terps fell in the finals to UVa, 2-1. Maryland advanced to the finals after wins over Clemson (2-0) and North Carolina (4-2).

Junior Chris Lancos had a huge tournament for the Terps, tying an ACC Tournament record with four assists. Lancos had a part in all four goals in the game against UNC, notching three assists and scoring one goal himself.

Lancos, Jason Garey and Noah Palmer were all named to the All-Tournament team. Garey scored four goals at the tournament, while Palmer recorded a shutout and made nine saves, including seven against Clemson, during the week.

Abe Thompson became Maryland's all-time leader in points with 110 with his goal against Clemson.

Mediate, Garey Academic All-Americans

Junior forward Jason Garey and senior midfielder Domenic Mediate have been named Academic All-Americans by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Garey, a Gonzales, La., native, was named to the second team. He leads the team in goals (21) and points (51) and is having one of the most prolific offensive seasons in Maryland history while leading the Terps to a 13-4-1 regular season record. Garey, a finance major, also maintains a 3.39 GPA in the classroom.

Mediate, a Southlake, Texas, native, was named to the third team. He is having another strong year for the Terps scoring nine goals and adding nine assists for 27 points. A first team All-ACC pick, Mediate also has five game-winning goals on the season, the most on the team.

Thompson, Garey Hermann semifinalists

Maryland forwards Jason Garey and Abe Thompson are among the 15 players selected as semifinalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America Player of the Year award for Division I competition. The award is regarded as college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy. The 15 candidates were selected by a nominating committee of Division I college coaches.

Maryland is one of just three schools to have two players among the semifinalists.

The winner will be determined in voting by NSCAA Division I member coaches. Three men's and three women's finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy will be announced at the 2004 Men's College Cup in December. The finalists will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, for the announcement of the winner at a press conference. Both winners will be presented with the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy at a banquet later that evening.

Lancos Lighting It Up

One of Maryland's hottest players down the stretch has been right back Chris Lancos.

In the last seven games, Lancos has six assists, including helpers on three game-winning goals (regular season against Virginia, ACC Tournament vs. North Carolina and NCAA Tournament vs. Hofstra).

Against the Tar Heels at the ACC Tournament, Lancos scored five points (1g, 3a), matching his total from the 2003 campaign.

Lancos' 10 assists this season are tied for seventh-most in a single season at Maryland. His 16 points this year (3g, 10a) are a career high.

Palmer Maryland's All-Time Shutout Leader

Goalkeeper Noah Palmer became Maryland's all-time leader in shutouts with a 2-0 win over Bucknell on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Palmer has 34 shutouts in his three-plus seasons, passing Dom Macina for first. Macina had 27.

Palmer has been hot as of late recording seven shutouts in the last nine games.

He also has eight NCAA Tournament shutouts.

Last season, Palmer set the Maryland single-season mark for GAA with 0.58. He has a career GAA of 0.84

After Maryland's game with Penn State on Oct. 14, Palmer's GAA was 1.54. He has since lowered his GAA to 0.99.

King Named To All-freshman Team

Maryland freshman Stephen King was one of 11 players selected to the TopDrawerSoccer.com All-Freshman first team.

The website describes King as a "cultured midfielder starting to emerge on national scene with good first year for Terps."

King was also named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Getting On The Board

When Maryland is able to tally a score in the game, it usually means good things for the Terps. Maryland has only been shutout twice this season.

Maryland is 46-2-1 in its last 49 games when scoring at least two goals. The Terps' 37-game winning streak when scoring two goals was snapped at Wake Forest, when Maryland lost 4-2.

The Terps are 37-4-2 over the past two seasons when registering at least one score in a game. Maryland was 20-0-1 when scoring at least one goal in 2003 and is 17-4-1 this season.

Maryland's streak of 27 consecutive games without a loss when scoring a goal came to a halt against Duke on Sept. 25, as the Blue Devils defeated the Terps 2-1 at Ludwig Field.

A Little Assistance

Maryland has assisted on all but seven goals in 2004 (four of those unassisted goals were on penalty kicks).

On 20 of Maryland's 60 goals, two people have been credited with an assist.

Chris Lancos leads the team with 10 assists, the seventh-most in a season at Maryland. Jason Garey, Michael Dello-Russo and Domenic Mediate are next on the team with nine assists. A.J. Godbolt tallied a career-high three assists against St. John's, Dello-Russo had three against Loyola and Lancos has three assists against UNC at the ACC Tournament, becoming just the fifth, sixth and seventh Terrapins to tally three assists in a game at Ludwig Field.

Dynamic Duos

Maryland's dynamic forward combination of Abe Thompson and Jason Garey is proving to be a tenacious tandem in 2004. Domenic Mediate and Stephen King are also a pair of midfielders that have wreaked havoc on teams this season.

Through 24 games, Garey and Thompson have 53 percent of Maryland's goals on the year (32 of 60). Mediate and King account for another 26 percent of Maryland's goals this season (16 of 60).

As of Nov. 14, Garey is third in the nation in points per game (2.33) and goals per game with 0.95. Thompson was 16th in the country in points per game (1.75).

In the last 18 games, the Terps have scored 30 goals. Twenty-seven of the 30 were scored by either King, Mediate, Garey or Thompson (90 percent).

Protecting The House

The Terps have been nearly unbeatable at Ludwig Field over the past two-plus seasons. Maryland is 38-3-1 (including NCAA Tournament games), with one loss coming to Bucknell last season and losses at home this year to Duke and Penn State.

Part of the home field advantage has been the tremendous student support at the games. The loyal student section is know as "The Crew."

Ludwig Field has gone under some renovations that continue to make it one of the top soccer venues in the country. New for 2004 is a new scoreboard and an upgrade to the lighting.

Maryland is averaging nearly 2,000 fans at home this year (1,898 per game).

Scouting Indiana

Indiana, the 2003 national champion, returns to the College Cup for the second consecutive season. The Hoosiers enter the contest with a 17-4-1 record.

The Hoosier defense is extremely difficult -- Indiana has only allowed more than one goal in a game once this season (a 2-1 loss to Michigan State at the Big Ten Tournament). Goalkeeper Jay Nolly has a GAA of 0.57 and has made 53 saves on the year. He has a career mark of 0.66.

In front of Nolly are two of the nation's best players in Drew Moor and Danny O'Rourke. Moor, a defender, is a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and has started every game for the Hoosiers. Indiana has a goals against average of 0.62 with 21 shutouts during his career. O'Rourke, a senior central midfielder, has also started every game he's appeared in for the Hoosiers, and the team has registered 45 shutouts during that time.

Offensively, Indiana is led by Jacob Peterson's 10 goals and two assists. Brian Plotkin has a team-high nine assists for the Hoosiers.

Mike Freitag is in his first season as head coach with the Hoosiers after spending 11 seasons as an assistant under the legendary Jerry Yeagley.

A glance at the field

In the other semifinal, Duke will take on UC Santa Barbara. The Blue Devils, the only unseeded team to make it to the College Cup, upset No. 4 Virginia in the quarterfinals. Duke also registered wins over Ohio State, No. 12 Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina to punch its ticket to Carson. The Gauchos defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee and UNC Greensboro by scores of 1-0 before downing Virginia Commonwealth 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

The Blue Devils' Michael Videira has helped start the Duke offense with 14 assists out of the midfield. Videira also has four goals on the year.

Danny Kramer and Blake Camp have each found the back of the net nine times for the Blue Devils this season.

Justin Trowbridge has seen most of the action in net for Duke this season -- he has a 0.78 GAA and has eight shutouts on the season.

For the Gauchos, Drew McAthy paces the team with 37 points on 15 goals and seven assists.

UCSB has only allowed 13 goals in 23 games this season.

Tony Lochhead and Neil Jones each have eight assists to lead the team in that category. Jones also has 10 goals, good for 28 points which is second on the team.

In goal, Dan Kennedy has seen most of the action for the Gauchos. He has a 0.56 GAA in 1,940 minuts of work on the year. He has made 65 saves on the year.

Duke's last national title came in 1986. UC Santa Barbara has never won the NCAA title.

Preseason Notebook

Maryland returns 57 percent of its goal scoring from 2003, including leading scorer Jason Garey and Hermann Trophy semifinalist Abe Thompson. Six starters return to the squad that earned its second straight 20-win season (the most in Maryland history) and back-to-back appearances in the College Cup. The Terps have won more games than any other team in the country over the last two seasons.

Prior to the regular season, the Terps took a 12-day preseason training trip to England and Scotland. In addition to the various sight-seeing, the team went 3-2 in five games. In addition to the soccer skills gained during the trip, it also served as a good way for the team to bond.

Maryland added nine players to the squad in 2004, and this recruiting class was ranked as the fifth-best in the nation. The new players include Eric Brunner (Columbus, Ohio), Spencer Darman Allen (Washington, D.C.), Maurice Edu (Fontana, Calif.), Aki Kadotani (Fairfax, Va.), Stephen King (Medford, N.J.), Kevin Reiman (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and Keith Vereb (Bowie, Md.). The Terps also added transfers Robbie C'deBaca (New Mexico) and Dan Waldo (Rutgers) to this year's squad.

Experience Counts

The Terps have eight starters with College Cup experience in Jason Garey, Abe Thompson, Domenic Mediate, Ian Rodway, Michael Dello-Russo, Kenney Bertz, Chris Lancos and Noah Palmer.

Maryland has 111 games of NCAA Tournament experience on its roster, including 83 combined starts.

Seniors Ian Rodway and Noah Palmer have the most experience, having started and played 13 NCAA Tournament games.

Rocking The Ranked

Maryland is 5-3-1 against ranked opponents this season. In the last NSCAA poll, Indiana was ranked sixth, UC Santa Barbara held down the No. 1 spot while Duke received votes.

Related News

Related Videos

Footer