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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The No. 3 Maryland men's s soccer team looks to secure the second seed in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Tournament when it treks to No. 11 Virginia Friday. The contest, which is a rematch of last season's NCAA Quarterfinal, is slated for 7 p.m.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Fans are encouraged to get to Klockner Stadium early as major delays are expected due to President Obama speaking on campus Friday evening.
Maryland (11-2-1, 5-1-1 ACC) capped a successful three-game homestand with a win against Wake Forest Saturday. Junior Casey Townsend was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week after scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist on the week. The Terps boast the second-ranked offense in the country, posting 2.79 goals per game - exactly two more than they are surrendering defensively.
Defending national champion Virginia (9-2-3, 2-2-2 ACC) is led offensively by Brian Ownby who has five goals in the Cavaliers' last five matches. A sturdy Virginia defense, headed by keeper Diego Restrepo, has given up only eight goals in 2010. The two storied programs have battled five times in the last two seasons, including twice in the ACC Tournament.
Fans can catch the action from Charlottesville via WMUC Sports by following the link above. A live blog will also be available by logging on to www.umterps.com.
TERPS SHAKE OFF WAKE FOREST, 3-1
The No. 3 Maryland men's soccer team picked up its first win against Wake Forest since 2006, downing the Demon Deacons, 3-1, on Saturday night.
Paul Torres, Casey Townsend and Matt Kassel accounted for Maryland's (11-2-1, 5-1-1 ACC) scoring on the nights. The Terps, winners of seven straight, outshot Wake (5-7-2, 3-2-2 ACC) an astounding 22-7 in the match and attempted a season-high 13 corner kicks, including eight in the first half.
Maryland is now 11-0 when scoring the first goal of the game this season. With the win, the Terps even the all-time series with Wake, 15-15-4.
HERRICK NAMED LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS FINALIST
Senior forward Jason Herrick is one of 10 NCAA men's soccer finalists for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which honors student-athletes who excel both on and off the field.
Herrick has started all 14 matches and contributed six goals for No. 4 Maryland. He netted his first score of the season while leading the Terps to a 5-0 rout of Northeastern before tallying a pair of goals in conference wins against N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
Fans can vote online at http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/mens_soccer_2010/.
THE 2010 SEASON - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Maryland made its 29th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. It was the 15th under head coach Sasho Cirovski.
In addition to returning the most experience since the 2008 national championship squad, the Terps boast the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation this season.
The Terps return nine starters from 2009, including All-ACC honorees Jason Herrick and Zac MacMath. Maryland has five seniors and six juniors on its roster this season.
Maryland, which plays in the always-tough ACC, once again faces one of the toughest schedules in the country, battling nine teams that participated in the 2007 NCAA Tournament and five that are ranked in the NSCAA Preseason Top 20.
Seven of the first nine teams the Terps face in 2010 advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season.
SCOUTING THE CAVS...
Virginia (9-2-3, 2-2-2 ACC) tied Boston College, 1-1, its last time out.
The Cavaliers are led offensively by Brian Ownby (seven goals, two assists) and Will Bates (six goals, three assists). Ownby has five goals in the squad's last five games.
The defending national champions have a solid keeper in Diego Restrepo. Restrepo has 55 saves this season and has surrendered only eight goals.
The Terps and Virginia have squared off five times in the last two seasons, with the teams playing to an even 2-2-1. The Cavs ousted Maryland out of both the ACC and NCAA Tournament last season. Maryland leads the all-time series, 36-27-8.
TOWNSEND GARNERS NATIONAL HONOR
Casey Townsend was named to Top Drawer Soccer's `Team of the Week' for his contributions in a pair of victories against Colgate and Wake Forest.
Townsend scored two goals and added an assist on the week. He scored an insurance goal against Colgate and dished the game-winning assist. He followed that by picking up the game-winner against Wake Forest Saturday.
NICELY PLAYED
Despite enduring one of the toughest schedules in soccer, Maryland boasts the second-ranked attack in the nation this season, trailing only No. 1 Akron in both scoring offense and total goals (through Oct. 24).
Individually, Matt Kassel is 11th in assists per game (0.57) and 28th in points per contest (1.43). Zac MacMath is 32nd in goals against average (0.77).
HERRICK NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Herrick was named ACC Player of the Week after helping the Terps to a 2-0 record last week, including a 3-2 edge of ACC foe Clemson and a 3-0 win over non-conference opponent Lehigh.
Herrick had the game-winning header on Oct. 16 to lift the Terps past a determined Clemson squad, 3-2.The senior also tallied two assists as the Terps ousted Lehigh, 3-0, on Oct. 12.
JANE RACKS UP NATIONAL ACCOLADE
Freshman Sunny Jane was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week for the week ending Oct. 17.
Jane began his promising goal-scoring career for the Terps, jumpstarting the squad with a goal in the 41st minute against Lehigh.
Jane, who also scored in the second half against the Mountain Hawks, has been an important sparkplug off the bench for Maryland in 2010.
He finished his week by scoring a goal in a win against Clemson on Saturday.
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS
Maryland erupted for seven goals against Virginia Tech, its highest goal output since a 7-0 rout of Duquesne last season.
Five players netted goals for Maryland, led by a two-goal showing from senior Jason Herrick.
It was the largest margin of victory for Maryland against a conference foe since 1996 when it toppled NC State in the ACC Tournament, 7-0. It's the largest in regular season ACC play since defeating Duke, 8-1, in 1965.
MARYLAND UPSETS NO. 2 UCONN, 1-0
The No. 6 Maryland men's soccer team handed No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season, 1-0, at Ludwig Field.
The Terps stymied a potent UConn offense that had amassed 26 goals through its first nine matches.
Freshman Patrick Mullins notched his third goal of the year after his header in the 35th minute sailed past outstretched UConn keeper Josh Ford to his left from 12-yards out for the eventual game-winner. Sophomore Paul Torres was credited with the assist. It was only the fourth goal UConn has allowed in 2010.
Zac MacMath recorded his second straight shutout against a top-10 ranked opponent behind a strong defensive effort by the Maryland backline. UConn, which entered Tuesday's match averaging over 17 shots per game, was outshot 17-13 in the non-conference showdown.
MULLINS EARNS NATIONAL HONOR
Freshman Patrick Mullins was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week for the week ending Oct. 10.
Mullins came off the bench to drive a header into the back of the net from 12-yards out to help the Terps upset No. 2 UConn also contributed a goal in Maryland's 7-0 win over ACC-foe Virginia Tech.
KASSEL NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior midfielder Matt Kassel was named ACC Men's Soccer Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 4, after guiding No. 8 Maryland to a 2-0 victory over Duke..
Kassel provided his Terrapins with the game-winner against Duke in front of a Ludwig Field record crowd of 7,260.
Playing an integral role in holding one of the nation's leading scorers in Ryan Finley (ninth) to a mere three shots and zero goals.
MARYLAND MSOC LIVE
Fans will be able to watch every Maryland men's soccer regular season home game live from their computer this season with a subscription to TerpsTV on umterps.com!
Premium TerpsTV programming requires a subscription which ranges from $9.95 monthly to $79.95 annually for all content.
To sign up, log on to www.umterps.com/allaccess/.
TERPS TOPPLE NO. 9 DUKE, 2-0
A Ludwig Field record crowd of 7,260 watched No. 8 Maryland snag a marquee conference win against No. 9 Duke, 2-0.
Matt Kassel registered his fourth goal of the year when his penalty kick score gave Maryland (5-2-1, 2-1-1 ACC) the early lead at 33:25. Terp senior forward Jason Herrick was taken down in the box setting up the opportunity. Patrick Mullins provided Maryland with the insurance score at 41:07 when he ripped a rebound off the Duke backline and nailed a close-range strike from seven-yards out.
The Terps moved to 4-0 this season in games where it leads at halftime. Maryland tallied its fourth shutout of the young 2010 campaign.
CELEBRATING 1,000 GAMES AND COUNTLESS MEMORIES
Fans filled Ludwig over capacity Friday night and the crowd was also treated to a celebration of the program's 1,000th game, which took place Sept. 21 against George Mason.
An array of alumni spanning the 64-year history of the storied program commemorated the feat with a pregame ceremony at midfield.
The game was also televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel.
MARYLAND BLANKS MASON IN 1,000th MATCH
The No. 5 Maryland men's soccer team celebrated the 1,000 match in its program history with a win against George Mason, 2-0, at Ludwig Field.
Sophomore defender London Woodberry netted his first career goal and the Terps benefited from an own goal to move to 4-1-1 on the year. Maryland has won three consecutive matches after going 1-1-1 to start the year.
The win avenged a tough loss in Fairfax, Va., against George Mason (4-2) in 2009. The shutout performance is Maryland's third in 2010 as a strong defensive effort held the Patriots to a mere three shots in the match.
THE TOURNEY STREAK
Maryland has been to the NCAA Tournament nine consecutive seasons and 15 out of the last 16 seasons.
In those nine seasons, Maryland has advanced to the College Cup five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008), racking up national titles in 2005 and 2008.
The Terps saw their nation-best streak of seven straight seasons with a first-round bye snapped in 2009.
Maryland is 42-24-4 in 29 NCAA appearances.
ONE STREAK ENDS, ANOTHER BEGINS
Maryland blanked four consecutive opponents this season before surrendering a second half goal to Clemson Saturday.
The shutout streak lasted over 452 minutes. Maryland outscored its opponent a whopping 15-0 during that period.
Maryland is currently riding a seven-game winning streak.
KING OF THE KASSEL
Matt Kassel has emerged as a point-scoring machine for the Terps.
The junior from Bridgewater, N.J., has already amassed a team-best 20 points (six goals, eight assists) this season, dominating his goal output from a year ago.
He is now tied for 10th with Shane Dougherty for the 10th most assists in program history.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...
Maryland has scored 39 goals through its first 14 matches.
That number is the highest total since 2004, when the squad scored 41 through its first 14 games. The Terps landed in the national semifinals that season.
THANKS SENIORS!
The Maryland men's soccer program will celebrate its senior class of 2010 next Friday when it plays host to William & Mary at Ludwig Field.
This year's senior class is comprised of Will Swaim, Doug Rodkey, Greg Young, Jason Herrick and Billy Cortes.
DISHIN' IT OUT
Maryland boasts two of the top assist men in the country as Matt Kassel and Doug Rodkey have teamed up for have teamed up for 12 this season.
Kassel leads the Terps with eight assists. Rodkey, a sixth-year senior, has 15 in his career and is looking to top his single-season high of nine as a member of the 2008 national championship squad.
MOVING FORWARD
Casey Townsend and Jason Herrick are in the middle of their third season working together up-top for the Terps.
The pair has combined for 12 of Maryland's 39 goals this season. Each has also registered two-goal game performances in 2010 - Townsend against Northeastern and Herrick against NC State and Virginia Tech.
BALANCE
Maryland has prided itself on a balanced attack this season, with 14 players contributing at least one point in 2010.
11 players have also scored goals this season for the top-ranking offense in the ACC.
AIM AND SHOOT
Maryland leads the ACC in shots this season, averaging a hefty 17.9 per game.
The Terps are outshooting their foes a staggering, 251-126.
YOUNG GUNS
Maryland has picked up some vital points from its underclassman group.
Freshman Patrick Mullins leads the unit with four goals and four assists. London Woodberry (one goal, three assists), Sunny Jane (three goals, one assist), Paul Torres (three goals, three assists), Ethan White (one assist) and Taylor Kemp (one assist) have also made point contributions this season.
BACK ON TRACK
After missing the majority of the 2009 season, junior Casey Townsend, one of the most prolific goal scorers in all of college soccer, returns to the starting lineup in great shape this season. He teams up with First Team All-ACC selection Jason Herrick up front.
In addition, Doug Rodkey returns after missing the majority of the season with a foot injury. Starting defender Alex Lee is also back in the lineup.
NO. 5 RECRUITING CLASS
Head coach Sasho Cirovski and his staff has assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. In addition to Patrick Mullins and Gordon Murie, who enrolled early this spring, Maryland will also welcome Marquez Fernandez, Tsotleho "Sunny" Jane, Jereme Raley and Helge Leikvang this season.
RODKEY BACK FOR MORE
Maryland senior Doug Rodkey returns for a sixth season after an injury sidelined the midfielder his sophomore and senior campaigns.
He will be aiming to be the first male athlete in Maryland history to win three NCAA championships.
U.S. WINS U-20 MILK CUP TITLE
Zac MacMath and Ethan White headed up the U.S. under-20 national team this July for the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland, ultimately taking home a title in the annual international youth soccer tournament.
MacMath posted a clean sheet in goal in a 1-0 victory against China while White started and played almost the entire match in a 3-2 victory against Denmark two days later.
WELCOME TO FAN-FRIENDLY LUDWIG FIELD
The Maryland men's soccer team has increasingly attracted more and more fans to Ludwig Field season after season. Heading into this season, more than 325,000 fans have filled the stands to take in exciting Terrapin soccer action since the facility opened in 1995.
A program-high crowd of 7,260 watched Maryland top No. 9 Duke in 2010. The Terps were second nationally in overall attendance in 2009.
Maryland has averaged more than 2,000 fans per match in each of the last seven seasons.
HERRICK, MACMATH TABBED TO HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Senior Jason Herrick and junior Zac MacMath have been tabbed to the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Herrick led the Terps with nine goals in 2009 and has been a mainstay up front for the Terps for three seasons. The Elmhurst, lll., native was selected as a First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick in 2009.
MacMath was an NSCAA Third Team All-American and First Team All-ACC selection as a sophomore last season. He helped lead the U.S. to a Milk Cup title in Northern Ireland as a member of the U-20 team.
TERPS IN THE COMMUNITY
Maryland spent the spring semester not only prepping for the upcoming 2010 fall slate, but also making a difference in the community.
The team raised $1,500 for Justin's Quest in ticket sales at its spring match against Virginia in addition to shooting baskets with Justin Friedlander to raise awareness for brain tumors.
The Terps also teamed up to help raise over $3,000 for the relief effort following the devastating earthquake in Haiti by selling t-shirts. The effort, which corresponded with former Maryland great Seth Stammler's `The Sporting Chance Foundation' hit close to home for the Terps, as sophomore midfielder Widner Saint Cyr grew up in Port-Au-Prince.