May 4, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second straight year the University of Maryland men's lacrosse team has been selected as the No. 7 seed in the 2008 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. The Terps will host Denver in the first round at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium, Saturday afternoon at noon in the tournament's first game. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.

This marks the fourth time that Maryland has been named the No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Terps were previously a No. 7 seed in 1982, 1991 and last year. In 1982, Maryland lost a first round game to Johns Hopkins by a 14-9 margin. In 1991, Maryland advanced to the Final Four, but lost to Towson, 15-11, in the semifinals. Last season the Terps were upset by UMBC in the first round by a score of 13-9.

The Terrapins have faced the Pioneers in the NCAA Tournament in 2006, which was Denver's only other NCAA Tournament bid. Maryland was the No. 2 seed in 2006 and took a 16-8 decision over the Pioneers in the first round. Maryland is making its 31st appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which is tied for second all-time.

The Terps, 9-5 on the season, were awarded one of nine at-large bids to the tournament and are coming off of a 16-10 win over Yale on Saturday. Denver, which was also awarded an at-large bid out of the Great Western Lacrosse League, has won seven of its last nine games and has an overall record of 10-5. In their The Pioneers lost in the semifinals of the GWLL tournament to Ohio State.

Tickets for the Maryland-Denver game can be purchased through the Maryland Ticket Office at 1-800-462-TERP (1-800-462-8377). Tickets prices are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors.

The winner of the Maryland/Denver game will meet the winner of the Virginia/UMBC first round game in the quarterfinals most likely on Saturday, May 17, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

Tournament Breakdown:
No. 1 Duke (ACC) vs. Loyola (ECAC AQ) - May 10, 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 Cornell (Ivy AQ) vs. Ohio State (GWLL) - May 10, 5 p.m.

No. 5 Johns Hopkins (Independent) vs. Hofstra (CAA AQ) - May 11, 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 North Carolina (ACC) vs. Navy (Patriot) - May 10, 7:30 p.m.

No. 3 Syracuse (Independent) vs. Canisius (MAAC AQ) - May 11, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 Notre Dame vs. Colgate (Patriot AQ) - May 11, Noon

No. 7 Maryland (ACC) vs. Denver (GWLL) - May 10, Noon
No. 2 Virginia (ACC) vs. UMBC (America East AQ) - May 11, 5 p.m.

Tournament Teams By Conference:
ACC (4): Duke, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia
America East (1): UMBC (AQ)
CAA (1): Hofstra (AQ)
ECAC (1): Loyola (AQ)
Ivy (1): Cornell (AQ)
Patriot League (2): Colgate (AQ), Navy
Great Western Lacrosse League (3): Notre Dame (AQ), Denver, Ohio State
Independent (2): Johns Hopkins, Syracuse
MAAC (1): Canisius (AQ)