Maryland Battles Cal Sunday
9/5/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2009
Game Notes
Ticket Information | Listen Live on WMUC
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 1/8 Maryland men's soccer team will face its second Pac-10 foe in three days when it plays host to No. 8/7 California on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Ludwig Field.
The Terps fell to a tough UCLA squad, 2-0, on Friday night despite a solid overall effort. Maryland outshot the Bruins, 19-7, in the match and controlled the ball for the majority of the game. Terrapin fans welcomed back last season's national champions in full force, registering a new record crowd of 6,718 at Ludwig Field.
Tickets for Sunday's match with Cal, a team Maryland faced twice last season including a tight NCAA Sweet Sixteen matchup, are $8 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors, and free for all students.
Sunday night's contest will be broadcast live on WMUCSports.com.
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 BEARS...
• No. 8/7 California, which was picked to win the PAC-10 this season, enters tonight's match with a 1-0 record after defeating Georgetown, 2-0, on Friday night in Washington D.C.
• Cal brings back eight of 11 starters from the team that advanced to Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Pacing the Bears is junior NSCAA All-American forward Andrew Wiedeman, who led Cal in points (29) and goals (12) a year ago.
• Cal and Maryland had a storied relationship last season with both teams registering wins in their respective states. Cal topped Maryland, 1-0, on Aug. 13 at UCLA in the second game of the year. Maryland returned the favor with a 2-1 win to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
• Cal is responsible for one of only two blemishes on sophomore goalkeeper Zac MacMath's record as he won 19-straight in 2008 following an early season loss to the Bears.
LAST TIME OUT...
• Despite a Ludwig Field record crowd of 6,718, the No. 1/8 Maryland men's soccer team saw its 16-game winning streak snapped Friday night after two late goals by UCLA sparked the Bruins to a 2-0 win in the Terps' season opener.
• UCLA picked up scores in the 77th and 82nd minutes, while shutting Maryland out for the first time since August 31, 2008, when the Terps fell, 1-0, to California in Los Angeles.
• Maryland controlled the entirety of the first half and the majority of the second. The Terps outshot UCLA, 13-3, in the first period and 19-7 for the match.
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.
• Cirvoski's resume is nothing short of impressive, possessing a 236-103-20 record with the Terps, with a pair of national championships, 14 NCAA appearances, three ACC Tournament championships, six appearances in the College Cup, and 15-straight winning seasons.
• 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.
• Ludwig Field already got a new attendance record as 6,718 fans came out for the Terps' season opener on Friday night. The night was electric with an array of Under Armour events and the welcoming back to College Park of the defending national champions.
• This season, Ludwig Field has grown an additional 500 seats for a total capacity of 7,000.
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 596-299-77 record overall and 164-117-21 in conference play.
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
• Maryland has several streaks they look to continue in 2009.
• 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.
ANTICIPATED STARTERS
MARYLAND
Forwards
#9 Jason Herrick - Jr.
#11 Casey Townsend - So.
Midfield
#23 Kaoru Forbess - So.
#5 Doug Rodkey - Sr.
#10 Drew Yates - Sr.
#8 Matt Kassel - So.
Defense
#2 Taylor Kemp - Fr.
#4 Ethan White - Fr.
#15 Kevin Tangney - Sr.
#18 Alex Lee - So.
Goalkeeper
#1 Zac MacMath - So.
CALIFORNIA
Forwards
#3 Andrew Wiedeman
#7 Davis Paul
Midfielders
#20 Jeff Cosgriff
#23 Demitrius Omphroy
#8 Ted Jones
#9 Hector Jimenez
#10 Servando Carrasco
Defense
#11 Jacob Wilson
#5 A.J. Soares
#21 Imaan Kerchgani
Goalkeeper
#1 David Bingham
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.
