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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
No. 2 Maryland begins its run to the College Cup when it plays host to Penn Sunday at 5 p.m. in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship at Ludwig Field.
Maryland (17-2-1), which garnered the second overall seed in this year's tournament after winning the ACC Championship last weekend, is riding a 13-game winning streak into the tournament. Zac MacMath was tabbed ACC Championship Most Valuable Player after racking up six saves in his program record-setting 13th shutout this season against top-seeded North Carolina in the title match. Jason Herrick paces the Terps in points (25) and goals (10).
Penn (13-5) won a thriller against Bucknell Thursday night, topping the Bison, 1-0, in overtime. Christian Barriero scored the game-winner for the Quakers, who lug a 5-1 road record to College Park Sunday. Maryland owns the all-time series with Penn, 3-0.
Sunday's tournament action will be webcast by logging on NCAA.com/allaccess or by clicking on the link above. Tickets are free for the first 500 college students with a valid ID.
TOURNEY TERPS
Maryland is making its 30th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. It is the 16th under head coach Sasho Cirovski.
Maryland has won national titles in 1968, 2005 and 2008.
The Terps boast a 42-24-4 record in their previous 29 NCAA appearances.
Maryland returns to the top of the bracket this season after heading into last season's championship unseeded for the first time since 2001. Despite not receiving one of the coveted 16 seeds, the Terps advanced all the way to the quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual national champion Virginia in 2009.
The Terrapin men's soccer program has been invited to the NCAA Tournament 16 of the last 17 seasons. Maryland has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen eight consecutive seasons and has landed in the College Cup five times since 2002.
The storied program has produced 17 straight winning seasons.
TERPS STYMIE TOP-SEEDED CAROLINA TO CAPTURE ACC CROWN
A Matt Kassel penalty kick goal followed by a tremendous defensive effort gave Maryland its fourth league tournament title Sunday, as the Terps dropped North Carolina, 1-0, in the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship.
Maryland goalkeeper Zac MacMath was named the ACC Championship Most Valuable Player after tallying six saves to preserve the Terps' 13th shutout this season. Kassel, Casey Townsend and Jason Herrick were also tabbed to the all-tournament team.
Kassel netted his eighth goal of the year and second against UNC when his penalty kick beat Tar Heel goalkeeper Scott Goodwin in the 14th minute.
MARYLAND - ROUND TWO
The Terps are 11-4-1 in the second round of the NCAA Championship and have won eight consecutive matches in the round since 2002.
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 20 matches and contributed 10 goals for No. 3 Maryland..
Fans can vote online at http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/mens_soccer_2010/.
SCOUTING PENN...
Penn (13-5) won a thriller Thursday night, defeating Bucknell in overtime, 1-0, off a Christian Barriero game-winner.
The Quakers, who have been ranked as high as No. 13 this season, have surrendered a mere 12 goals this season behind a strong effort by goalkeeper Ben Berg.
Penn has faced only two ranked opponents this 2010 with late season matchups against Brown and Princeton. The Quakers are 5-1 on the road this season.
The Quakers are led offensively by Stephen Baker (8g, 2a) and Barriero (5g, 7a).
Maryland leads the all-time series, 3-0.
HERRICK LIFTS TERPS TO ACC TITLE GAME
Senior Jason Herrick scored two goals to help Maryland avenge a pair of 2009 postseason losses and blank Virginia, 2-0, Friday to advance to the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship title game.
Herrick, a Lowe's Senior CLASS finalist and All-ACC First Team pick, tallied one goal in each half to lift second-seeded Maryland to the title game Sunday after falling to Virginia in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments last season.
CORTES SPARKS TERPS TO ACC SEMIFINALS
Senior Billy Cortes scored a goal and added an assist to lift second-seeded Maryland past Clemson, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship Wednesday at WakeMed Soccer Park.
After his goal in the ninth minute provided Maryland (15-2-1) with an early lead and boost of momentum, Cortes assisted on Casey Townsend's game-winner at the beginning of the second stanza to spark the Terps to the semifinals for the first time since 2008.
The squads were even with four shots each in the second half and a steady defensive effort thwarted off several Clemson attempts at the end of the match. Maryland is now 15-0 when scoring the first goal of the match in 2010. The Terps have won 11 consecutive games.
SINCE THE LOSS AT UNC...
Since losing at North Carolina on Sept. 24, Maryland has won 13 consecutive games, including six shutouts over opponents ranked in the top 25 nationally.
The Terps have outscored their opponents, 36-4, since dropping a 2-1 decision in Chapel Hill.
NET `EM EARLY
The Terps are a perfect 17-0 this season when they are the first squad to put the ball in the back of the net.
SIGHTS SET ON STANDARD
Maryland established a `Gold Standard' in 2008, setting program-records for wins (23), shutouts (15) and winning streak (16) on its way to winning both the ACC and NCAA championships.
This year's Terps are on pace to better those marks, with 13 shutouts, 17 wins and a 13-game winning streak thus far in 2010.
MR. NOVEMBER
Senior Billy Cortes has been spectacular in the month of November the last two seasons.
In 2009, Cortes racked up a goal and an assist in the regular season finale against College of Charleston before tallying two goals and an assist in tournament wins against Penn State in the second round and Harvard in the Sweet Sixteen.
This season, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native had a goal and an assist on Senior Night against Coastal California and had a game-high three points on one goal and an assist in the ACC quarterfinal action against Clemson.
TORRES NABS NATIONAL WEEKLY AWARD
Paul Torres was named to Top Drawer Soccer's `Team of the Week' after scoring a pair of goals in Maryland's wins over No. 13 William & Mary and Coastal Carolina.
The sophomore has a career-best five goals this season and has made six consecutive starts in the Terp midfield.
MARYLAND BLANKS VIRGINIA, 2-0
Working with a makeshift lineup, the No. 3 Maryland men's soccer team was able to manufacture a shutout of league-rival Virginia, 2-0, at Klockner Stadium.
Jason Herrick and John Stertzer each provided Maryland with quick scores in the first and second half, respectively. Terrapin keeper Zac MacMath, who was working with a backline minus starters London Woodberry and Ethan White, made three saves to preserve Maryland's ninth shutout of the year. It was the first time defending national champion Virginia has given up two goals since it was blanked by UConn, 2-0, in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
TORRES TEARING IT UP
Sophomore Paul Torres is catching fire late this season, scoring five times in the last nine games.
The midfielder has earned a starting nod in seven of the last eight matches and has tallied 13 points in the last 10 games.
FORWARDS IN SYNC
Maryland is 10-0 this season when either forwards Casey Townsend or Jason Herrick score goals.
The pair has combined for 12 goals during the Terps' current 13-game winning streak.
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.
BEST OF THE BEST
Despite enduring one of the toughest schedules in soccer, Maryland boasts the top-ranked attack in the nation this season, leading the country in scoring offense (2.7) and total goals (54)(through Nov. 16).
Individually, Matt Kassel is 26th in assists per game (0.45) and 42nd in points per contest (1.25). Jason Herrick is also 42nd in points per game (1.25) and 39th in goals per game (.45). Zac MacMath is 10th in goals against average (0.59).
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, 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.
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.
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 13-game winning streak and has blanked five of its last six opponents.
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 25 points (eight goals, nine assists) this season, dominating his goal output from a year ago.
He is now tied for 8th for most assists in a career in program history.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...
Maryland has scored 54 goals through its first 20 matches.
That number is the highest total since 2005, when the squad scored 55 through its first 20 games. The Terps won the national championship that season.
THANKS SENIORS!
The Maryland men's soccer program celebrated its senior class of 2010 Friday with a 5-0 rout of Coastal Carolina.
This year's senior class is comprised of Will Swaim, Doug Rodkey, Greg Young, Jason Herrick and Billy Cortes. The group is 42-5-5 at Ludwig Field the last four seasons.
DISHIN' IT OUT
Maryland boasts two of the top assist men in the country as Matt Kassel and Doug Rodkey for have teamed up for 14 this season.
Kassel leads the Terps with nine 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 18 of Maryland's 54 goals this season. Each has also registered two-goal game performances in 2010 - Townsend against Northeastern and Herrick against NC State, Virginia Tech and Virginia.
BALANCE
Maryland has prided itself on a balanced attack this season, with 16 players contributing at least one point in 2010.
13 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 16.0 per game.
The Terps are outshooting their foes a staggering 320-188.
YOUNG GUNS
Maryland has picked up some vital points from its underclassman group.
Freshman Patrick Mullins (four goals, four assists) and sophomore Paul Torres (five goals, four assists) lead the youth movement. London Woodberry (one goal, three assists), Sunny Jane (three goals, one assist), Ethan White (one assist), John Stertzer (one goal, two assists) Helge Leikvang (one goal) and Taylor Kemp (three assists) 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.