University of North Carolina Athletics
Maryland Shoots For Upset Against No. 10 North Carolina
October 6, 2000 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 6, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapins men's soccer team (5-5, 1-2 ACC) hosts No. 10 North Carolina Saturday and is pushing for its second ACC win of the year. An upset against the Tar Heels would be the first time in a over month that the Terps have strung two straight wins together. Gametime is 7 p.m., and the first 500 fans will receive free men's soccer T-shirts.
The Maryland/North Carolina Series
Through 54 games, the Terrapins hold a commanding 34-18-2 advantage over the Tar Heels in the series dating back to 1950. The two ACC teams met last year in Chapel Hill, resulting in a 1-0 win for the Terps. Christian Lewis (Ellicott City, Md.) fought not only the Heels, but also crippling back pain throughout the game. The junior goialkeeper still performed brilliantly for Maryland, ammassing 5 saves and squelching several excellent scoring chances for the host Tar Heels.
During Sasho Cirovski's tenure, the Terps have a 5-2 regular season record against North Carolina. Two of the nine contests during the Cirovski era have gone into overtime, with each team leaving the field with a win. The Terps are 2-1 under Cirovski when playing at Ludwig, including one 2-1 overtime loss in 1998.
The Tar Heels in 2000
North Carolina is coming off what Heel supporters are calling one of the biggest wins in several years when it upset then-No. 10 Duke 4-1 at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke campus Sunday afternoon. That win improved then No. 17 Tar Heels to 8-2 overall (2-1 ACC). Chris Carrieri leads the Heels' scoring efforts with nine goals and four assists.
Thompson Nets First Career Hat Trick
Freshman striker Abe Thompson (Fairfax Station, Va.) netted his first career hat trick in the Terps' 5-1 victory over Monmouth on Oct. 4. The three-goal performance was the first-ever hat trick at Ludwig Field, and is the Terps' first hat trick since 1994 when Shane Dougherty (1995-96) hit for three at Denton Field in Maryland's 5-0 defeat of Butler. Thompson scored all three of his goals in the second half on Wednesday, which is also a Ludwig Field record for goals in a half by an individual.
Salyer Explodes For Terrapins
Freshman Philip Salyer (Dallas, Texas), who has been a key addition to the Maryland defense all season, proved last week he could be a deadly offensive weapon for the Terps as well. Salyer scored twice in Maryland's 3-0 win over American on Sept. 27, notching Maryland's first and last goals of the day. The U-20 national team member also tied the game at three for the Terrapins last Sunday against Wake Forest.
Cirovski Five Away From 100 Wins at Maryland
Entering his eighth year at Maryland, head coach Sasho Cirovski has compiled a 95-55-14 (.622) record. A 1985 graduate of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cirovski owns a 121-67-14 (.634) through his first nine years of head coaching. Cirovski sits just five wins away from the 100-win plateau at Maryland, and would be only the second coach in Maryland history to reach the milestone. Doyle Royal (1946-73), who coached at Maryland for for the first 28 years of the program, is the only other Terrapin head coach with 100 or more. Cirovski has 14 or more wins in each of his last six seasons, and has eight more regular season games, plus the postseason to acheive the milestone. The Terps' 3-0 win against American on Sept. 27 marked the 200th game Cirovski has coached in his career.
Sardis Moves Into Fourth
Senior Jason Sardis (1997-Pres.) joined the career assists list at Maryland last year, and has kept on climbing after rejoining the team just weeks into the 2000 season. Sardis has 19 career assists through the Monmouth game, and is tied with Randy Merkel (1996-98) at the No. 4 spot. Sardis' assist against Monmouth puts him just two away from the No. 3 spot, which belongs to Shane Dougherty (1993-94). Keith Beach (1995-98) is Maryland's all-time career assists leader with 35.
Junior co-captains Nick Downing and Beckett Hollenbach sit just off the career assist list with 11 and 10, respectively.
Maryland's Career Assists List
1. 35 Keith Beach (1995-98)
2. 32 Eberhard Klein (1962-64)
3. 21 Shane Dougherty (1993-94)
4. 19 Randy Merkel (1996-98)
19 Jason Sardis (1997-Pres.)
5. 18 Jason Cropley (1996-99)
6. 17 Taylor Twellman (1998-99)
17 Steve Armas (1995-98)
7. 16 Gino Ferrin (1985-86)
16 Rocco Morelli (1968-69)
8. 15 Dorn Feltham (1986-89)
15 Leo Cullen (1994-97)
11 Nick Downing (1998-Pres.)
10 Beckett Hollenbach (1988-Pres.)
Christian Lewis' Journal
Don't forget to follow the Terps from an inside prospective by checking Christian Lewis' season-long journal for new updates. The Maryland native will post his thoughts at least once a week on umterps.com, the official athletic site of Maryland athletics. Through six entires, the Terps have already been tested continually, drawing them closer together through it all. Don't miss another word as the season unfolds!
