Dec. 13, 2008

Tournament Central | Press Conference Quotes

NCAA Tournament Stats | NCAA Championship Game Notes <="">

FRISCO, Texas - For the second time in four years, the Maryland men's soccer team will vie for a national championship as it faces familiar-foe North Carolina in the finals of the 2008 Men's College Cup at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Pizza Hut Park. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

Maryland (22-3-0) advanced in dramatic fashion Friday, dropping St. John's, 1-0, in the semifinals. Senior midfielder Graham Zusi nailed a free kick in the contest's 105th minute to lift the second-seeded Terps to the title game. Despite the close score, Maryland outplayed the Red Storm throughout, outshooting St. John's by a 19-3 deficit and maintaining possession nearly the entire game. The Maryland defense continued to prove why they are one of the finest units in the country, registering its school-record 14th shutout of the year. The Terrapin offense, though held scoreless in regulation for only the second time this season, had plenty of opportunities to get on the board, but ran up against a supreme effort by SJU keeper Neal Kitson, who ended the day with nine saves.

The Terps are led by 2008 NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American Omar Gonzalez, who will look to win the national championship in his native-Texas Sunday. Jeremy Hall leads the Terrapin attack in goals (14) and points (34). Freshman keeper Zac MacMath is one shy of tying the school record for shutouts in a season and has won 18 consecutive games between the pipes. Seniors A.J. Delagarza, Michael Marchiano and Zusi are hoping to bookend their illustrious careers after serving in reserve roles on the 2005 national championship team.

North Carolina (15-7-1), a team who Maryland has battled and beaten twice in 2008, has caught fire in the postseason after losing five straight games heading into the NCAA tournament. Brian Shriver leads the Tar Heel offense with 14 goals and 33 points, including the game-winning header against No. 1 Wake Forest in the semis on Friday. Maryland is unbeaten in seven straight occasions against the 13th-seeded Tar Heels.

The Maryland/UNC series sits in favor of the Terps, 41-21-3. Maryland defeated the Tar Heels twice in a six-day span back in early November. The Terps dropped North Carolina, 2-1, Nov. 7 on Senior Day at College Park before knocking UNC out of the ACC tournament, 1-0, five days later in Cary, N.C. This is the first meeting in the NCAA tournament between the Terps and the Tar Heels. Despite the strength of the ACC, Maryland has clashed with conference foes only three times prior in tournament play with the last time dating back to 1994 when Virginia topped the Terps, 2-1, in the second round.

This is the fifth appearance in the finals for the Maryland men's soccer program, with the Terps resting at an even 2-2 en route to a pair of national titles. Maryland, which has also set a school-record for wins in a season with 22, was victorious in its last national championship game, defeating New Mexico, 1-0, in 2005. Should Maryland win the College Cup Sunday, it would mark the second time in program history that it has captured both the ACC and NCAA championship titles in one season. Maryland swept in 1968 as well, but were co-champions after tying Michigan State, 2-2, in the finals of the NCAA tournament.

Southern Methodist University and FC Dallas of Major League Soccer are hosts of the 2008 Men's College Cup. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the SMU Ticket Office at 214-SMUGAME, logging on to SMUMustangs.com or by calling FC Dallas 214-705-6700.