Terps Men's Soccer Opens ACC Tournament Play Against UNC
11/11/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 11, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The fifth-ranked Maryland men's soccer team will take its eight-game winning streak and No. 2 seed into the ACC Tournament, beginning with a match against North Carolina Wednesday at noon at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The Terps, who concluded the regular season with a 15-3-0 overall record, is battling familiar foe in the form of UNC. The two programs battled last Friday at Ludwig Field as Maryland picked up the win, 2-1. Senior Graham Zusi netted the game-winner - his third of the year - at the end of the first half to give the Terps their tenth win in College Park this season. Drew Yates scored his first goal of the 2008 campaign to even the score after the Tar Heels struck first off a Cameron Brown goal. The Terrapin defense, after giving up three goals in ninety seconds in a devastating loss at Clemson Oct. 3, have surrendered only four goals in the last eight outings. The Terps are led offensively by junior Jeremy Hall, who boasts team-bests in goals (11) and points (27).
North Carolina (11-6-1) has lost four straight heading into the postseason. The Tar Heels are led by Brian Shriver, who leads the team with 13 goals and 29 points. Goalkeeper Jacob Wescoe has a 10-5-1 record in goal for Carolina, but was replaced at halftime in the Maryland contest by Brooks Haggerty after giving up two goals in the first period. Haggerty held the Terp offense at-bay, shutting out Maryland through 45 minutes. Following last Friday's win, the Terps lead the all-time series, 40-21-3.
Maryland is 15-17-2 all-time in the always-challenging ACC Tournament. The Terps have won two tournament titles under the tutelage of head coach Sasho Cirovski (1996, 2002). The last time Maryland landed in the finals was in 2004, when the Terps upended Clemson and North Carolina before falling to Virginia, 2-1, in the title game.
WMUC will be in Cary live to broadcast all the action. Games are also available on the Internet via ACC Select.
