Aug. 29, 2012

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - As Sasho Cirovski embarks on his 20th season at Maryland, the winningest coach in Terrapin men's soccer history has once again challenged his squad with one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.

"I think this is the kind of schedule that excites the players, the coaches, and the fans," Cirovski said. "It was a driving force for all the players to really work hard this summer. Like I've always said, if we can survive this schedule we will be prepared for the NCAA tournament."

Below is a breakdown of Maryland's opponents:

LOUISVILLE
• Entered the 2012 preseason ranked #7 in the country
• Defeated the Terps 4-2 in the Sweet Sixteen in the 2011 NCAA Tournament

UCLA
• Ranked #2 in the country's preseason rankings
• Reached the Final Four as a 13-seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament

CALIFORNIA
• Won the Pac-10 Conference in 2010
• Was ranked as high as #7 during 2011 season

BOSTON COLLEGE
• Ranked #14 in preseason coaches' poll
• Defeated the Terps 2-1 in the 2011 ACC quarterfinals

UMBC
• Terps defeated UMBC 4-3 in double overtime in 2011
• Boast the 2011 American East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year

NC STATE
• Went 7-11-2 last season, including a 3-1 loss at Maryland
• Boasted a 5-3-2 record at home

OLD DOMINION
• Ranked #23 in preseason poll
• Lost to Delaware in the CAA championship game last year

VIRGINIA TECH
• Beat #1 North Carolina in last year's regular season 1-0 in double overtime
• Lost to #11 Boston College 4-3 in overtime in 2011

GEORGIA STATE
• Earned the school's first ever NCAA at-large bid in 2011
• Assistant coach Ed Joyce was named Regional Assistant Coach of the Year for 2011-2012 season

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
• Lost in the Southern Conference Championship game 2-1 to Furman
• Made it to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament

VIRGINIA
• Lost to NCAA Champion North Carolina in the ACC semifinals in 2011
• Beat Maryland 2-1 last season

RUTGERS
• Reached the Sweet 16 in the 2011 NCAA Tournament
• Lost to Maryland 2-1 in overtime last season

DUKE
• Lost in the semifinals of the ACC tournament to Boston College
• Reached the second round in the NCAA Tournament last year

COLGATE
• Won the 2011 Patriot League Championship
• Lost to Rutgers in the first round of NCAA tournament last season

NORTH CAROLINA
• Won the ACC and NCAA championship last season
• Tied the Terps 1-1 in Chapel Hill in 2011

LEHIGH
• Lost to Colgate in the semifinals of the Patriot League tournament
• Tied #22 California in double overtime

CLEMSON
• Defeated the Terps 2-1 in 2011
• Defeated #14 Boston College in the regular season

WAKE FOREST
• Tied Maryland 1-1 in double overtime last season
• Advanced to the second round of the 2011 NCAA tournament

Cirovski is also thrilled with the bolstered television coverage for not only Maryland, but college soccer as a whole this season.

"It's great that the ACC has put so many more games on this year because it's a great brand of soccer and college soccer in the regular season has shown tremendous improvement at the gate and in the quality of play.

"We have well over a third of our games nationally televised in some capacity. It really shows we are moving in the right direction."

Below is a list of Maryland's nationally-televised games. Other home matches will be shown on TerpsTV Premium.

Aug. 31 vs. UCLA, ESPN3
Sept. 14 at NC State, ESPN3
Sept. 21 vs. Virginia Tech, ACC Digital Network on YouTube
Oct. 5 vs. Virginia, FOX Soccer Channel
Oct. 19 vs. North Carolina, ESPNU
Nov. 1 at Wake Forest, ESPN3