COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With still three matches left in the regular season, the Maryland men's soccer team has already set the school's season attendance record as 33,230 spectators have flowed through the gates to watch the returning national champions. That total surpasses last season's mark of 33,121 in 13 total games played in College Park. Also, four of the eight all-time largest crowds at Maryland have come in 2006.

"It is incredible," head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "This is part of the vision I have for Maryland soccer and all segments of our fans have responded. Our students make Ludwig Field the most entertaining environment in all of college soccer. It's an absolute joy to see how our fans have taken to our team and it is a great source of pride."

The Maryland soccer community has supported their Terps throughout the season. The Ludwig Field single-game attendance record was set on September 29 during a magical night on the pitch in a clash with ACC rival Duke. Prior to the match, the Terps entered the field under a cloud of smoke through the national championship goal, which serves as a reminder of the team's 2005 NCAA title. During the singing of the national anthem and prior to player introductions, fireworks lit up the College Park sky as the 6,489 in attendance supplied an electric atmosphere for the Terps' 1-0 victory. The match was also televised live by Fox Soccer Channel.

Ludwig Field was also packed for the first-ever matchup between Maryland and Boston College in College Park on October 14. The second largest crowd was on hand as 6,214 flowed through the turnstiles to watch the Terps and Eagles battle in ACC competition.

The first home conference match of the season drew the fifth-largest crowd ever on September 16. NC State came to town and was greeted by 4,565 Terps fans that sparked Maryland to a dominating 3-0 win to kick off the ACC slate.

The UCLA Bruins also drew a large crowd on September 2 as 4,020 fans watched Maryland win 4-1. Despite poor weather and the postponement from the night before due to the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto, it was the sixth-largest crowd in Maryland history.

In the Terps' three home conference matches this season, an astounding average of 5,756 fans have been on hand at Ludwig. On average, 5,100 fans have come out to see the Terps in seven ACC contests this season.

The returning national champions have been a hot ticket on the road as well. Out of the five times the Terps have traveled to an opponent's stadium, an attendance record has been set three times. It started with the season opener on the road at Old Dominion on August 27. In a 2-0 win, the Terps drew an ODU Soccer Stadium collegiate record of 3,331 fans to the field in Norfolk, Va.

In their first ACC road action of the year, Maryland visited a raucous Riggs Field on the campus of Clemson. It was the largest crowd to ever see a regular season match at Riggs as 6,821 fans came out to see a close 2-1 Clemson win.

Finally, at Wake Forest, a Spry Stadium record of 4,413 spectators saw the Terps rally from behind in a huge 2-1 win.

With three matches left in the regular season and possibly more in the NCAA Tournament, Maryland will continue to build on the new attendance record. Following are the remaining home dates for the Terps at Ludwig:

Sunday, October 22 vs. Albany at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 24 vs. Bucknell at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 27 vs. Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Maryland will be hosting the ACC Men's Soccer Tournament from October 31-November 5 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown. Tickets can be purchased at the Virginia Tech match or on gameday at the SoccerPlex.