No. 2 Terps Travel To Chapel Hill Friday Night
10/5/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 5, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 2 men's soccer team heads to Chapel Hill to take on No. 6 North Carolina in an ACC matchup that will be featured on Fox Soccer Channel. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 p.m. The Terps are riding a six-game win streak with their most recent win coming last Friday against Duke, 1-0, in front a Ludwig Field record crowd of 6,489 fans.
Terps Put Streak On The Line In Chapel Hill
• The No. 2 Maryland men's soccer team takes on No. 6 North Carolina on Friday, October 6 at 8:00 p.m. in Chapel Hill. The game will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel, which marks the second time in a row that the Terps will be featured. Maryland defeated No. 14 Duke, 1-0, last Friday on FSC.
• Maryland comes into the match with a six-game win streak, during which they have combined to defeat their opposition by a score of 11-1.
• The Terps own a 38-21-2 record all-time against the Tar Heels and have won the last three meetings.
• The last time the Terps played at North Carolina, they lost 1-0 on October 5, 2003. It was their only ACC loss of the season.
• The Tar Heels enter the match with a 10-2-1 record and are 2-2-0 in the conference.
Terps Beat Duke In Front Of 6,489 At Ludwig
• Junior Maurice Edu notched his second game-winning goal in four days when he knocked in a header on a Graham Zusi cross in the 14th minute to give Maryland the 1-0 win last Friday night.
• The match was played in front of a record crowd of 6,489 people at Ludwig Field and in front of an international audience on Fox Soccer Channel. The old Ludwig Field record stands at 6,203 that watched Maryland take on defending national champion Indiana in 2005.
• It was the seventh shutout of the season for Maryland. During its current six-game win streak, the Terps have notched five shutouts and allowed just one goal.
• Duke settled the electric crowd in the early going with good ball control, but once Edu struck in the 14th minute, the Blue Devils never got a very dangerous chance at the goal. Perhaps the Blue Devils' best chance of the night came with nine minutes to go in the game when Zach Pope delivered a dangerous pass off of a corner. Mike Grella tried to sneak a shot over Seitz but the ball landed harmlessly on the top of the net.
• The last 30 seconds of the match were intense with the ball in Duke's possession in the offensive third. After Maryland committed a foul on the right side, a pass was sent into the box and knocked down. Players from both teams scrambled after the loose ball. Duke tried to fire a couple of shots, but all of their attempts were blocked before going anywhere. Eventually, the Terps were able to clear the danger to hang on for the win.
Edu Tabbed Soccer America Player Of The Week
• Junior Maurice Edu was named the Soccer America Player of the Week for his two game-winning headers last week. Both tallies began with crosses from sophomore Graham Zusi, who earned the same honor a week ago. College Soccer News also placed Edu on their National Team of the Week on Monday.
• The two goals were Edu's first of the season.
Scouting the Tar Heels
• North Carolina comes into the match ranked No. 6 with a record of 10-2-1 and is 2-2-0 in the ACC. The Heels are coming off of a 3-3 draw against High Point on Tuesday in Chapel Hill.
• UNC returned 10 starters from last year's squad who tied Duke in the ACC Championship last season but eventually lost in penalty kicks. The Heels also beat Providence and Virginia last year in the NCAA Tournament before losing to SMU in the final eight.
• Michael Callahan leads the team with four goals and two assists while Scott Campbell has notched three goals and three assists. Ben Hunter has recorded two goals and four assists.
• UNC returned its entire back line this year after putting up a school-record 15 shutouts in 2005.
• Keeper Justin Hughes has earned an 8-2-1 record with five shutouts. He has allowed 10 goals in those games and has a save percentage of .762.
Come One, Come All
• The returning national champion Terps have drawn quite a crowd at Ludwig Field and on the road this season.
• The Maryland soccer community came out in full force on Friday, September 29 as a record crowd of 6,489 fans watched their Terps take down No. 14 Duke, 1-0, at Ludwig Field. The fans sparked an electric atmosphere for the match shown on Fox Soccer Channel. Maryland entered the field under a cloud of smoke and fireworks lit the sky during the national anthem and prior to player introductions.
• Against NC State, 4,565 fans came out to watch the Terps win 3-0.
• On September 2, 4,020 fans came to Ludwig Field to watch the Terps defeat No. 10 UCLA, 4-1. Despite poor weather and the postponement of the match from the night before, it was then the fifth-largest crowd in Ludwig history.
• In all three of its away matches this year, attendance records have been set at the opponents' respective fields.
• At No. 23 Old Dominion on August 27, 3,331 spectators came out to watch the Monarchs battle the Terps. Maryland came out on top, 2-0. That was the largest crowd to ever see a collegiate soccer match at the ODU Soccer Stadium.
• At No. 4 Clemson on Friday night, 6,821 people flocked to Historic Riggs Field for the ACC showdown that the Tigers won, 2-1. That was the largest crowd to ever see a regular season match at Riggs.
• The largest number of people to watch a match at the field was a crowd of over 8,000 when Clemson hosted the 1987 national championship which they won.
• At No. 7 Wake Forest, 4,413 people showed up as the Terps knocked off the Deacons, 2-1, in come-from-behind fashion. That set the all-time Spry Stadium record.
Where It's At...
• Maryland will play 13 home matches this regular season, the most in program history. The Terps played 12 matches at home in 1982.
• Home is where the Terps like to play. Over the past four seasons, Maryland is 55-3-3 at Ludwig Field, including an unbeaten mark of 11-0-2 in 2005. In 2002, the Terps went a perfect 13-0.
• Included in that impressive record is the Terps' 10-0-2 mark in the postseason at Ludwig which has helped UM reach four consecutive College Cups. The Terps are the eighth team in NCAA history to participate in four straight College Cups.
• For the second-straight season, Maryland averaged over 2,000 fans per match in 2005. An average of 2,548 fans rocked Ludwig Field when the Terps took the pitch. 2004 was the first season since 1995 which Maryland averaged over 2,000 fans.
• So far this season, Maryland is a perfect 8-0 at home and is averaging 3,254 fans a game.
No Offense, But...
• The Terps defense has been strong throughout the season. In their current six-game win streak, Maryland has earned five shutouts and allowed just one goal.
• In their first 11 matches, the Terps have notched seven shutouts.
• In the most recent outing against Duke, the Terp back line played beautifully as the Blue Devils got limited quality chances on goal. Eight of their 11 shots came in the second half.
• In their current win streak, the back line has allowed just 40 shots, an average of 6.6 per match, and only 14 have been on target.
• Entering the week, the Terps were first in the ACC in goals allowed (5), goals against average (.45), and shutout percentage (.64).
Royal Company
• Head coach Sasho Cirovski will soon enter some outstanding company when it comes to Maryland soccer.
• WIth 197 wins, Cirovski is three wins from earning his 200th victory while with the Terps. The only other head coach to accomplish that feat was the program's first coach, Doyle Royal.
• Royal had a 217-58-18 record with Maryland in 28 years at the helm.
• Cirovski already matched Royal in one department, and that is the national championship. Royal coached the Terps to a perfect 1968 season at 14-0-1, earning a share of the national title.
Non-Conference Dominance
• The Terps have been impressive against non-league foes since the 2001 season, compiling a 73-17-4 record. Five of those losses came in a 10-5 2001 campaign.
• Maryland is off to a 7-0 start this season. Its best non-conference record during the span came in 2003 when the Terps went 15-2-1.
Edu It To Me One More Time
• Junior Maurice Edu had his best week of the season last week as he tallied both goals in a pair of 1-0 Terp victories against Loyola and Duke.
• Both of the goals were his first of the season and both came in very similar fashion. Against Loyola on Tuesday night, sophomore Graham Zusi took the ball down the right side of the pitch. He fired a cross to the far side of the box to an awaiting Drew Yates. Yates took the cross on his head and redirected the pass to the middle of the box. Edu, who was making a run down the center of the box, knocked home a header to the right side of the net to give the Terps a 1-0 edge in the 61st minute.
• Against the Blue Devils on Friday night, Edu notched the game-winner in the 14th minute. Zusi delivered a beautiful corner to the middle of the box and Edu was able to get a head on the ball and put a shot past the Duke keeper for the win.
Zusi As 1-2-3
• Sophomore Graham Zusi, who scored five goals and added two assists in 2005, is having a break out season for the Terps.
• Zusi leads the team with six goals and 15 points. He has recorded a point in five-straight contests.
• Last week in wins against Loyola and Duke, Zusi provided the game-winning assist in similar fashion. Against the Greyhounds, he delivered a cross to freshman Drew Yates who found junior Maurice Edu for the score. Against Duke, Zusi delivered a corner in the box to Edu who headed in the lone goal of the match in the 14th minute.
Hall's Way
• Freshman Jeremy Hall continues to play a key role in the Terps' attack.
• In the win against Duke, Hall used some nifty footwork around the box to force the corner kick that led to the game-winning goal.
• Hall has racked up four goals and two assists for 10 points, which is fourth on the squad.
• Hall notched the equalizer in the 79th minute at No. 7 Wake Forest to begin Maryland's comeback win. Stephen King found Maurice Edu in the middle of the field who then sent a long pass to Hall who had plenty of open space in front of him. Hall took the ball and went one-on-one with Edwards and calmly sent a low shot to the right side that beat the keeper.
• Hall was also involved in the game-winning goal as he forced the foul in the box that led to Graham Zusi's winning penalty kick. David Glaudemans found Hall in the offensive third. Hall tried to take the ball the rest of the way with a defender on him. The two reached the box, and Hall was taken down trying to get by the defender.
• Hall was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on September 25.
King Of College Park
• Junior Stephen King had an assist at Wake Forest to earn his sixth of the season to go along with four goals. His six assists leads the team and his 14 points is second.
• King has been a part of six game-winning or go-ahead goals this season. His two game-winning goals were scored against UCLA and Louisville. He has also assisted the go-ahead goals against Binghamton, UCLA, Louisville, and NC State.
• He was also crucial in the Terps win against No. 7 Wake Forest as he assisted on the Jeremy Hall goal that tied the game in the 79th minute.
• King has been named ACC Player of the Week, College Soccer News National Player of the Week, and has been placed on the Soccer America Team of the Week twice this season.
Herr-o-ick
• With some doubts about where scoring would come from prior to the season, freshman Jason Herrick has provided an answer. His five goals is second on the team and his 12 points is third.
• Herrick has been a part of two game winning goals, assisting the one against UCLA and scoring it against Mount St. Mary's. He also scored the first goal of the match against UCLA.
• Against NC State, Herrick scored his fourth goal in amazing fashion when he launched a shot into the top left corner from about 30 yards out. The keeper had no chance at stopping the perfectly placed shot.
A Little Help From Godbolt
• Senior A.J. Godbolt has played a key role not only this season, but for his entire career. Regarded as the best crosser on the team, Godbolt has three assists and a game winning goal that he notched against NC State.
• His 22 career assists ranks sixth all-time, tied with Jason Sardis and A.J. Herrera. Scott Buete stands in fifth with 24 career helpers.
• Last season, Godbolt was one assist away from tying the single-season record of 14 held by Gino Ferrin (1985).
• Godbolt recorded his first-ever game-winning goal when he put back a Stephen King penalty kick that had been saved against NC State.
Near Perfect Seitz
• Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Seitz has compiled an impressive 23-2-2 record for the Terps since last season.
• Before losing at Clemson, Seitz had not lost since November 11 of last season against Duke in the ACC Tournament, 4-2. Since that match, Seitz holds an impressive record of 14-1-1.
• Seitz and the Terps defense have been strong so far this season. Seitz has allowed just five shots to reach the back of the net for a 0.45 goals against average, which is sxith in the nation. His 0.64 shutout percentage is tied for fifth in the country.
Newcomers Making An Impact
• With a relatively young squad, Terps newcomers are making a major impact as two of the top five scorers are new to College Park.
• Freshman Jason Herrick has been stellar for Maryland with five goals and two assists.
• Sophomore Rich Costanzo, a transfer from Penn State, has an assist to go with his game winning goal against Binghamton.
• Freshman Jeremy Hall has recorded four goals and two assists.
• Freshmen Omar Gonzalez has one assist and Drew Yates has racked up four.
• Newcomers have accounted for 30 of the Terps' 72 points, which comes out to 423 percent.
• Their 30 points almost doubles the amount all of the opposition has racked up this season (16).
To Be The Best...
• You have to beat the best. Maryland will play seven teams ranked in the NSCAA/adidas preseason top-25 to give great experience to its young squad.
• Four of those matches feature ACC opponents on the road. The Terps will battle No. 4 Virginia on October 11, No. 5 North Carolina on October 6, No. 5 Clemson on September 8, and No. 16 Wake Forest on September 23. UCLA was the highest preseason ranked team to visit College Park when it brought its No. 10 ranking to Ludwig Field on September 2.
• Current record against the NSCAA/adidas top 25: 4-1 (won at No. 23 Old Dominion; beat No. 10 UCLA; lost at No. 4 Clemson; won at No. 7 Wake Forest; beat No. 14 Duke)
