Aug. 9, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland's men's soccer team will make its first competitive appearance since winning the 2005 national championship this Saturday when it takes on Georgetown University in a preseason exhibition match at the Soccerplex in Germantown.

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The "friendly" vs. the Hoyas will give 14th-year Terrapin coach Sasho Cirovski an early preview of his squad, which returns 16 letterwinners and six starters off last year's unit, which defeated New Mexico 1-0 in the NCAA championship game.

The Terps began preseason practice on Wednesday.

"This is the earliest exhibition we have ever played and it will provide us with an early sense of where we are as a team," said Cirovski, the reigning national coach of the year, whose team went 19-4-2 in 2005 in reaching the Final Four for the fourth consecutive season.

Following the match vs. Georgetown, the Terps will return to College Park to continue preseason training before heading to the Midwest to take on perennial power Indiana in an exhibition on Friday, Aug. 18.

The Terps open regular-season action Friday, Aug. 25 when they travel to Norfolk, Va., to take on Old Dominion. That match will precede the Terps' regular-season home opener Aug. 27 vs. Binghamton and a big match on Sept. 1 vs. UCLA.

University of Maryland soccer season ticket information is available on umterps.com or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at (800) 462-TERP.

Driving Directions - Maryland SoccerPlex and Discovery Sports Center

From Baltimore and Areas North

Take I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) to exit for Route I-70 West toward Frederick
Follow I-70 to the exit for I-270 South toward Washington (approximately 35 miles)
Take I-270 South to Exit 15B (Route 118 South) toward Germantown
Continue on Route 118 for 2.8 miles to Richter Farm Road and turn right
Take Richter Farm Road 1 mile to Schaeffer Road (4-way stop) and turn left
The park entrance is 0.3 miles on the right

From Western Maryland
Take Route I-70 East toward Frederick
Follow I-70 to the exit for I-270 South
Take I-270 South to Exit 15B (Route 118 South) toward Germantown
Continue on Route 118 for 2.8 miles to Richter Farm Road and turn right
Take Richter Farm Road 1 mile to Schaeffer Road (4-way stop) and turn left
The park entrance is 0.3 miles on the right

From Northern Virginia and Points South
Take I-495 (Capital Beltway) West to Exit 35 (I-270 North toward Frederick)
Take I-270 North to Exit 15B (Route 118 South) toward Germantown
Continue on Route 118 for 2.8 miles to Richter Farm Road and turn right
Take Richter Farm Road 1 mile to Schaeffer Road (4-way stop) and turn left
The park entrance is 0.3 miles on the right