Dec. 11, 2008

FRISCO, Texas - The year was 2005 and Graham Zusi, Michael Marchiano, A.J. Delagarza and the rest of Maryland's freshman class did not know what to expect entering their first collegiate season.

Sure, Maryland was a perennial power on the verge of greatness with head coach Sasho Cirovski, but who can imagine being the last team standing at the end of their first season, right?

Yet, the freshman class did just that, experiencing the quintessential victory of college sports--a national championship.

Today, the Terps are led by the senior backbone of Zusi, Marchiano and Delagarza. Along with the seniors, redshirt juniors Doug Rodkey, Kevin Tangney and Kwame Darko were freshman during the 2005 championship run.

Despite disappointing exits the past two seasons from the NCAA Tournament, the Terps have returned to the prestigious College Cup in Frisco, TX. With a national championship within grasp, the seniors' focus is aimed at another run for glory.

"We have the talent and the experience to win it all," Delagarza said.

Darko, a redshirt junior, says this year's team and the 2005 team are very similar.

"My freshman year, just like this year, we were brothers more than teammates...willing to sacrifice for each other," Darko said. "This year is special because on-and-off the field everything is clicking together to achieve something great."

This past summer, the team stayed in College Park training. Daily practices and pick-up games helped the Terps hone their fluid playing style. The results are evident with an ACC Championship under their belt in addition to boasting the nation's longest winning streak at 14 games.

Following a successful freshman campaign where he won Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Rich Costanzo -another Terrapin senior-- transferred to Maryland in search of a national championship. The success of this season is no surprise to Costanzo.

"Since I've been here, the team has been so close-knit," Costanzo said. "Everyone is on the same page. We have the same goals for this team."

The 2005 freshman class will look to become the only two-time national champions in program history this weekend. The road to the championship has two more stops, beginning with a match against third-seeded St. John's Friday at 8 p.m. at Pizza Hut Park.

By: Chris Chambers, Maryland Media Relations