Aug. 24, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Weekly Release
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The top-ranked and reigning national champion Maryland men's soccer team opens its 2006 slate when it travels to Norfolk, Va. to take on No. 23 Old Dominion on Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the Old Dominion Soccer Stadium.
Top-Ranked Terps' new season begins
• The No. 1 Maryland men's soccer team opens up its 2006 campaign in Norfolk, Va. when it faces No. 23 Old Dominion on Friday night, August 25, at 6:30 p.m. This will be the 14th meeting between the two programs with the Terps holding a 7-5-1 advantage.
• The last time Maryland and Old Dominion met was in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Terps won that match 2-1 on goals from Jason Garey and Clarence Goodson.
• The two teams have not met in the regular season since October 12, 1996. The Terps shutout the Monarchs, 2-0, in that contest.
• On August 27, the returning national champs will welcome Binghamton to Ludwig Field for the first time ever. It is the first-ever match-up between the Terps and the Bearcats of the America East Conference.
A Closer Look At The Terps
• The Terps are ranked first in three of the four major men's soccer preseason polls. Maryland earned the top spot in the NSCAA/adidas, College Soccer News, and Soccer Times national polls. Soccer America was the only poll that did not list the Terps No. 1. UM came in at No. 4. ACC foes North Carolina and Virginia were ranked ahead of the Terps, No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. SMU earned the second spot in the poll.
• Maryland hauled in the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the nation for the 2006 season but lost six seniors from the national championship squad. This season's eight freshman include Omar Gonzalez, Jeremy Hall, Jason Herrick, Justin Kendro, Josh Mikulewicz, Tyler Mishalow, Jon Ports, and Drew Yates.
• The Terps lost their all-time leading goal scorer in Jason Garey, but return six other starters, including their entire midfield. Maryland also has the services of sophomore Chris Seitz in goal who went 13-1-2 last season while posting six clean sheats. Seitz was the Defensive MVP of the College Cup last year.
• The Terp midfield could be one of the best in the nation. Maurice Edu, A.J. Godbolt, and Stephen King all return to try and link the youth of the forwards and defenders. Edu was a second team All-ACC selection last year. King tallied 15 goals and eight assists last season and has started every match the last two seasons. Godbolt dished out 13 assists in 2005 from the right flank spot.
• The Terps will square off against 10 teams that competed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Maryland will play 13 home matches this season, the most in program history. The Terps played 12 matches at home in 1982.
• Maryland was undefeated at home in 2005, posting a record of 11-0-2. The Terps' last setback at Ludwig Field came against Penn State on October 14, 2004, when the Nittany Lions won 4-1. PSU returns to Ludwig Field on September 20. Maryland is unbeaten at home in its last 16 contests.
King and Seitz Earn Preseason Honors
• Junior midfielder Stephen King was one of 25 men's soccer student-athletes named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List by the Missouri Athletic Club.
• King has been a mainstay in the Maryland midfield for the last two seasons, starting every match. He tallied 15 goals and eight assists en route to earning All-NSCAA South Atlantic First Team honors in 2005. His 15 goals are tied for ninth in a single season while his 38 points are tied for eighth.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Seitz was named to the Soccer America Preseason All-America Team. Seitz was a 2005 All-ACC second team selection and earned ACC All-Freshmen honors after posting a 13-1-2 record in goal for the Terps. He was the first freshman keeper to lead his team to the NCAA title since 1990 and was named the College Cup defensive MVP for his performance between the pipes.
Terps In The Preseason
• Maryland played a pair of matches to tune up for the regular season. On August 12, the Terps played Georgetown to a 0-0 draw.
• UM dominated play against the Hoyas, owning a 20-4 advantage in shots including a 10-2 cushion in shots on goal.
• Against No. 12 Indiana, the Terps lost 1-0 on a goal in the 75th minute. The match was played in front of 6,118 spectators at the IPFW Soccer Showcase in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Rogers Signs Contract With SC Heerenveen
• Robbie Rogers, a a 2005 Freshman All-American and the Terps' third-leading scorer a year ago, announced on August 14 that he signed a multi-year contract with the professional soccer club, SC Heerenveen, in the Dutch Premier League.
• Said Rogers: "My experience at Maryland is one I will treasure for the rest of my life. It is the best program in the country, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it. Sasho (Cirovski) has elevated my game to the highest level, and I want to thank him, [assistant] Russell Payne, [assistant] Rob Vartughian and the entire Maryland soccer program for an incredible experience. The relationships that I've made here with my teammates and coaches are very important to me and will always remain with me.
Where It's At...
• Maryland will play 13 home matches this 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 48-3-3 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. 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.
To Be The Best...
• You have to beat the best. Maryland will play seven teams ranked in the 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 will be the highest preseason ranked team to visit College Park when it brings its No. 10 ranking to Ludwig Field on September 1.
One Up, One Down
• Maryland has been perfect since 2000 in season-openers, going 6-0 in that span.
• The Terps have dominated opponents in the lid lifters by outscoring teams 27-2 in those six matches.
• UM has recorded four straight shutouts to open a season, including an 8-0 victory against Rhode Island, a 1-0 win against Furman, a 5-0 win against Long Island, and a 7-0 triumph versus Cal State Fullerton last season.
Scouting The Monarchs
• No. 23 Old Dominion finished 15-4-2 in 2005 and lost to Wake Forest in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
• ODU lost its top goal scorer in Brian Cvilikas who found the net 15 times last year. The next three leading goal scorers combined for 15 goals.
• Senior Ross Mackenzie dished out a team-high six assists last seasons as did juniors A.J. Kulp and Gregg Mottinger.
• Sophomore defender Trevor Banks was named a College Soccer News first team All-Freshman selection. He was the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year after scoring six goals and adding three assists.
Scouting The Bearcats
• Binghamton was picked fourth in this year's preseason America East poll after finishing 12-4-5 in 2005 and advancing to its third consecutive conference final.
• Binghamton finished with an RPI of 36 in 2005, the highest among the America East. College Soccer News ranked the Bearcats in the top 25 last season at one point.
• Binghamton lost the services of Graham Munro who was named third-team All-America by College Soccer News a year ago after finishing the season with five goals.
• Maryland will be the only opponent on its 2006 schedule that is ranked in the NSCAA/adidas preseason poll.
Terps On Top
• Maryland is ranked the top team in the nation in three of four major men's soccer polls. The Terps are No. 1 in the NSCAA/adidas, College Soccer News, and Soccer Times polls.
• The only poll to not list UM No. 1 is Soccer America, which lists ACC foe North Carolina at the top. Maryland comes in at the No. 4 slot. Also ahead of the Terps is No. 3 Virginia and No. 2 SMU.
Maryland Picked Third In ACC
• The Terps were selected to finish third in the conference this season behind North Carolina and Virginia, respectively.
• The Tar Heels earned the most first-place votes with four while the Terps earned two. Virginia, Duke, and Clemson also earned a first-place vote.
Sasho's Success
• Head coach Sasho Cirovski has emerged as one of the premiere coaches in the NCAA. He owns a 213-100-20 record in 15 years as a head coach.
• At Maryland, Cirovski has a 187-88-14 mark. He trails only Doyle Royal, the programs first and longest tenured coach, in wins. Royal had a 217-58-18 record while with the Terps.
