Sept. 2, 2009

Under Armour Release | NCAA.com Preview

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The defending national champion No. 1/8 Maryland men's soccer team officially opens the 2009 campaign with a highly-anticipated battle against No. 19/9 UCLA on Friday at 8 p.m. at Ludwig Field.

An electric atmosphere is expected with an array of Under Armour events planned and the unveiling of the new goalpost from the Terps' run to the 2008 College Cup in Frisco, Texas. Maryland will also debut its refurbished backline after losing its four starting defenders from last season. Along with premiering a new defense, a total of ten freshmen could see action in their first collegiate contest at College Park. The Terps boasted the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, according College Soccer News and Soccer America.

In addition to making room for 500 additional fans this season, Ludwig Field has added an additional gate to help ensure quick in-and-out access to one of the nation's finest college soccer facilities. Gate A (the closest gate to the scoreboard) will be utilized for student admittance only. Gate C, located at the main entrance, will house all general public requests while a new Gate B for all media and player guest will call access is positioned in between Gates A and C.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors, and free for all students. Friday's matchup is part of a doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m. with a women's soccer contest pinning the Terps against No. 22 Santa Clara. Both games will be broadcast live on WMUCSports.com.

Promotions for Friday night's match include the distribution of a limited number of exclusive Under Armour Maryland Soccer scarves as well as a ceremonial first pass by Kevin Plank, Maryland alum and Under Armour Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.

SEASON SNAPSHOT
• After establishing the `Gold Standard' in 2008 with an NCAA National Championship, an ACC Tournament title and a school-record 23 wins and 15 shutouts, the Terps have a tall task ahead to repeat the kind of success they achieved just a year ago.
• However, with a core of returners including All-ACC honorees Zac MacMath, Matt Kassel and Casey Townsend, solid leadership from a talented group of upperclassmen, and a promising nationally-ranked recruiting class, there are plenty of reasons to believe the 2009 Terps will reach the College Cup and beyond.
• MacMath returns to goal after a spectacular freshman season where he led the nation in goals against average (0.44). He also tied a Maryland program-record with 12 shutouts and ran off a streak of 19 consecutive wins after losing his collegiate debut to California.
• The biggest question mark for the Terps this season will be the backline. After being depleted by the graduation of three-year starter Rich Costanzo and the departures of All-American Omar Gonzalez, Rodney Wallace and A.J. Delagarza to the MLS, Cirovski will rely heavily on a young, fresh crop of defenders in 2009. The refurbished backline will, however, profit from the experience of Kevin Tangney as an anchor.
• The midfield, along with the forward corps, should be strong units for Maryland in 2009. The Terps return seniors Doug Rodkey and Drew Yates along with sophomores Kassel and Kaoru Forbess, to the midfield.
• Maryland is thrilled to return both of its starters at the forward position as junior Jason Herrick and Townsend are poised for their second season working together up front. The duo combined for 15 goals last season.

SCOUTING THE BRUINS...
• No. 19/9 UCLA, which is a preseason second pick in the PAC-10, captured a conference title a year ago but was ousted by Cal Poly in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
• The Bruins shutout CSU Bakersfield, 2-0, and tied UC Irvine, 1-1, in their two preseason contests.
• UCLA seniors Brian Perk and Michael Stephens were selected to the final 21-man roster that will represent the U.S. at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. UCLA ranks first (tied with Notre Dame) amongst collegiate squads with two players on the team.
• Maryland leads the all-time series, 4-2-0, including a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the Bruins to open up the 2008 season. Sean Flatley tied the score with 45 seconds remaining before Rodney Wallace provided the game-winner in overtime.

CIROVSKI RETURNS FOR 17th SEASON
• Head coach Sasho Cirovski is in his 17th season at the helm of the storied Maryland men's soccer program and his 19th overall.
• He became the winningest head coach in Maryland men's soccer history last season, passing long-time coach Doyle Royal.

THE GOLD STANDARD
• Maryland established several school-records on its way to the national title last season including wins (23) and shutouts (15) in a season as well as a program-best 16-game winning streak.

ACC- THE BEST OF THE BEST
• Last year's College Cup was filled to the brim with ACC squads as North Carolina, Wake Forest and Maryland advanced to the final four in Frisco, Texas.
• Known as the premier soccer conference in the nation, the ACC appears to be tough once again in 2009 with three teams ranked in the top five according to the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 Poll.
• Maryland will play host to North Carolina in a rematch of the 2008 title game on Sept. 25. The game will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.

HOME SWEET LUDWIG
• Maryland ranked fifth in the nation in 2008 in attendance, averaging 2,545 per game.
• The Terps established a Ludwig Field-record when a then-capacity crowd of 6,500 came out for a rain-soaked No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between Wake Forest and the Terps.
• This season, Ludwig Field has grown an additional 500 seats for a total capacity of 7,000.
• In Maryland's 2007 home opener against No. 20 West Virginia, 5,022 spectators came out to root on the Terps. That number ranks seventh all-time at Ludwig.

TERPS IN THE PROS
• The Terps lost eight letterwinners from a year ago, including five that were drafted in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.
• Maryland, for only the second time ever in MLS history, had three players selected in the first round, including Omar Gonzalez (3rd - L.A. Galaxy), Rodney Wallace (6th - D.C. United) and Jeremy Hall (11th - New York Red Bulls).
• Joining the three Generation adidas players are departed seniors A.J. Delagarza, who was nabbed by the Galaxy with the 19th pick and College Cup Most Outstanding Player Graham Zusi, who landed in Kansas City after being selected 23rd overall.

OFFENSIVE RETURNS
• Maryland returns 42 percent of its scoring last season including Casey Townsend, who was second on the team with 11 goals in 2008. The vast majority of the set-up men return as Doug Rodkey and Matt Kassel, who ranked first and second, respectively, in assists, will be back in the starting lineup in 2009.

ANOTHER MILESTONE LOOMING
• The Maryland men's soccer program is four wins shy of reaching the 600 mark and boasts a 596-298-77 record overall (.653) and 164-117-21 (.578) in conference play.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!
• Maryland has several streaks they look to continue in 2009. The Terps ended the 2008 season on a school-record 16-game winning streak.
• The program has had 15 consecutive winning seasons in addition to making seven-straight Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• In total, Maryland has been to 14 consecutive NCAA Tournaments while advancing to the final four in six of the last eight seasons.

WELCOME ROOKIES
• Once again, Cirovski and his staff have compiled a top tier recruiting class, earning a No. 2-ranking by both Soccer America and College Soccer News.
• The ten-player class is highlighted by three NSCAA All-Americans, including Taylor Kemp, Jordan Cyrus and London Woodberry, along with international standouts Widner Saint Cyr and Gonzalo Frechilla.

TOWNSEND GARNERS PRESEASON AWARD
• Maryland forward Casey Townsend was tabbed to the Soccer America Presason All-America Second Team.
• The Traverse City, Mich., native, was named an All-ACC Freshman Team selection in 2008.

FRESHMEN NO MORE
• If Maryland hopes to be successful this season, it will rely heavily on the continued progress of its coveted sophomore class.
• Zac MacMath returns in goal after a tremendous freshman campaign. The U-20 national team product led the nation in goals against average (0.44). He will face the only team that's been able to beat him at Maryland when the Terps battle California on Sunday, Sept. 6.
• Matt Kassel will look to improve in the midfield and joins now-healthy classmate Kaoru Forbess
. • Casey Townsend, who ranked second on the squad in scoring with 11 goals, aims to have another stellar season in 2009.
• Other sophomores looking to make an impact include Alex Lee, who has moved from striker to defense this season, and forward Matt Oduaran, who spent time with the U-20 Nigerian national team this summer.

TERPS IN OPENERS
• Maryland is 40-23-1 in season openers, with the lone tie coming at Indiana in 2007.
• Friday's contest against UCLA is only the second time in Ludwig Field history that the Terps have opened up at home. The last time was in 1996 against George Mason.
• The Terps are 9-4-1 in home openers at Ludwig Field, including winning five of their last six.

Home Openers at Ludwig
9/10/95 - Virginia 2, Maryland 2
8/30/96 - George Mason 2, Maryland 1
9/5/97 - Santa Clara 2, Maryland 3
9/6/98 - American 0, Maryland 2
9/8/99 - Marshall 0, Maryland 4
9/8/00 - Indiana 2, Maryland 1
9/7/01 - Creighton 2, Maryland 1
9/6/02 - Penn State 1, Maryland 2
9/5/03 - UCLA 0, Maryland 1
9/10/04 - St. John's 2, Maryland 5
9/9/05 - Santa Clara 1, Maryland 3
8/27/06 - Binghamton 0, Maryland 3
9/7/07 - West Virginia 1, Maryland 0
9/5/08 - Hartford 0, Maryland 3

THE `09 SLATE
• The Terps welcome 12 teams to Ludwig Field this season, including a four-game homestand to kick off the 2009 campaign.
• In total, the Terps will battle eight NCAA Tournament teams from last season, including three that Maryland defeated in postseason play en route to its second national title in four seasons.
• The schedule is highlighted by an opening weekend two-game homestand with West Coast foes UCLA and California on Sept. 4 and 6, respectively. Maryland faces North Carolina in a rematch of the 2008 national title game on Sept. 25 in front of a live television audience on Fox Soccer Channel. The Terps will take on ACC rivals Wake Forest on the road Oct. 24 before welcoming Virginia on Halloween night in College Park.