College Soccer

COLLEGE PARK - For the first time in the program's history, the Maryland men's soccer team is ranked No.1 in the NSCAA/adidas Coaches Poll. The Terrapins beat then-No. 1 UCLA, 1-0, in front of a record crowd of 6,143 Friday night at Ludwig Field. The Terrapins (4-0) were ranked No. 1 in other publications at various other times, including Soccer America last season and College Soccer News this season, but this is the first time Maryland has cracked the top spot in what is the most highly recognized soccer poll.

Track and field Centrowitz seventh in 1,500 at world indoors Reigning U.S. outdoor champion Matt Centrowitz (Broadneck) finished seventh in the men's 1,500-meter race at the world indoor championships Saturday in Istanbul. Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider won in 3 minutes, 45.21 seconds, followed by Turkey's Ilham Tanui Oezbilen in 3:45.35. Centrowitz, a former Oregon star, finished in 3:47.42. Et cetera McDonogh girls top Spalding again, this time at Walsh No. 2 McDonogh (28-2)

The Maryland men's soccer team will be up against a familiar opponent when it plays Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament today at 1 p.m. in College Park. Last year, the Billikens came to Ludwig Field and were turned away by the Terrapins, who won that match, 1-0, in overtime on their way to the College Cup - a trip that would be repeated with a win today. Its name might be one of the few things that hasn't changed about Saint Louis (15-3-3), the tournament's seventh seed.

College baseball Terps sweep, are off to 3rd-best start since '24 Host Maryland swept a doubleheader from Manhattan on Saturday, winning 4-1 and 10-1, and is off to its third-best start since 1924 with an 8-1 record. David Carroll (2-0) pitched a two-hitter in Game 1, and Sander Beck (1-0), Charlie Haslup and Will Bouey held Manhattan (1-6) to one run in the second game. Only twice since 1924 have the Terps had a better start than this season: in 1967 they opened 12-1 and in 1968 they were 10-1.

Two state teams have gotten to the round of 16 in the NCAA men's soccer tournament with paradoxically different rosters. Towson coach Frank Olszewski, who grew up in Dundalk, has all-league players from Canada and Germany, and reserves from Bermuda and Mexico. Maryland's Sasho Cirovski, who emigrated from what was Yugoslavia to Canada as a boy, has not used a single player from a foreign country this season. The Terps have one of the nation's premier programs, a brand recognized by the schoolboys who relocate to Florida for the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program.

College Park -- No. 3 Maryland rewarded a record crowd of 6,489 at Ludwig Field with a 1-0 victory over No. 14 Duke last night, as a first-half header from junior midfielder Maurice Edu held up for the defending NCAA champions. The Blue Devils are normally a hot ticket only during basketball season, but a Terps program that was dormant when coach Sasho Cirovski arrived 13 years ago has become a top draw in college soccer. Maryland's only loss, at No. 2 Clemson three weeks ago, attracted nearly 7,000 spectators.

The NCAA men's soccer tournament first-round matchup between Liberty and Loyola was delayed briefly yesterday because the Flames couldn't find their jerseys. When the game started, Liberty, like most of the Greyhounds' opponents this season, couldn't find the back of the net as host Loyola prevailed, 2-0, at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field. It was the Greyhounds' 16th shutout in 22 games this season, and they remain No. 1 in the nation in team shutout percentage. Loyola coach Mark Mettrick reminded his team during the week about the "giant-killers" in every NCAA tournament and that there is no reason the Greyhounds couldn't adopt that role.

The Community College of Baltimore County-Dundalk said yesterday that it will force its men's soccer team to forfeit a coming semifinal playoff game against CCBC-Essex because of "inappropriate and unsportsmanlike" behavior in a playoff victory over Chesapeake College on Monday. Dundalk trailed 4-0 in the game but rallied to tie it at 4-4 and eventually won in a shootout. But during the game, two Lions players were issued red cards and ejected in separate incidents in which players from each team nearly came to blows.

COLLEGE PARK - For the University of Maryland men's soccer team, which has nine newcomers and will field five new starters this season, sneaking up on teams is no longer an option. That's what happens when you reach the NCAA College Cup semifinals two years straight. But the Terrapins - who open their season tomorrow against Marshall in the Nike Classic at Virginia - is a program that's reloading rather than rebuilding, with the highest of expectations under 12th-year coach Sasho Cirvoski.

From humble roots in Tamale, Ghana, Sumed Ibrahim is living the American dream through his immense soccer ability. The most dashing player on the Maryland men's team receives a second opportunity to totally fulfill that dream beginning today in Columbus, Ohio, when the Terrapins return to the NCAA College Cup in a semifinal matchup against St. John's. The survivor will advance to the national championship game Sunday against the Indiana-Santa Clara winner. Maryland (20-2-1) reached this point last year before losing to UCLA, 2-1, with Sumed scoring the team's only goal on a brilliant piece of individual work.

Amateur soccer Nichols named coach of new Bohemians The Baltimore Bohemians, a new member of the United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League, has named McDonogh boys coach Steve Nichols as their head coach. A Baltimore native, Nichols led McDonogh to its seventh Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship this fall and has coached the Baltimore Bays club team to nine national youth championships. The PDL, which features 65 teams competing in four conferences and nine divisions, is the top-level amateur men's soccer league in North America.

Et cetera Terps women's hoops recruits graded highly The Maryland women's basketball team's recruiting class of Malina Howard , Chloe Pavlech and Tierney Pfirman is the sixth-best in the country, according to ESPN.com's Hoop Gurlz. Howard is a 6-foot-3 post player from Twinsburg (Ohio) High, Pavlech a 5-6 guard from Sycamore High in Cincinnati and Pfirman a 6-2 forward from South Williamsport Junior-Senior High in Williamsport, Pa. Howard and Pfirman are ranked in ESPN.com's top25 of 2012 players.

Laurel Park Jockey Pino moves into tie for 13th in wins With a victory in Thursday's eighth race at Laurel Park, jockey Mario Pino moved into a tie for 13th on the all-time list with Hall of Famer Eddie Delahoussaye . Both riders have 6,384 career winners after Pino, an Ellicott City resident, guided Filare L'Oro ($7.80) to an allowance score in the final jumps. "To tie a legend like that is an amazing feeling," said Pino, who rode Hard Spun to on the board finishes in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Men's college basketball Pride of Md. tourney to start Tuesday The seventh annual Pride of Maryland men's basketball tournament will begin Tuesday with semifinal and final rounds Nov. 18 and 19 at Goucher and Johns Hopkins. On Tuesday, Frostburg hosts McDaniel at 8 p.m., Goucher hosts Johns Hopkins at 7:30 p.m., Stevenson visits Salisbury at 7 p.m. and Washington College hosts St.Mary's at 7:30 p.m. Nationals 'Major push' is planned to sign free agent Oswalt The Washington Nationals have Philadelphia Phillies free-agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt in their sights, with FoxSports.com reporting Tuesday that the Nationals plan to make a "major push" for Oswalt, who went 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA last year despite a bad back.

Et cetera Terps men upset by BC in ACC quarters, 2-1 Seventh-seeded Boston College used two quick first-half goals to defeat second-seeded Maryland, 2-1, in the Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer quarterfinals Tuesday night. The host Terps (13-3-3) had an 18-9 advantage in shots, but the Eagles (13-5-0) held on after scoring in the 13th and 17th minutes. Maryland's Casey Townsend scored his 13th goal of the season two minutes into the second half when he flicked in a cross from Jereme Raley . The NCAA tournament bracket will be announced Monday.

Et cetera Towson's West earns weekly honor in CAA Towson freshman tailback Terrance West (Northwestern) was named the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 183 yards on 21 carries and scoring three touchdowns in the Tigers' 40-30 victory Saturday over Maine, which pulled Towson into a a three-way tie for first place in the CAA. Also, Towson (7-2, 5-1) is ranked 12th in the The Sports Network/Fathead.com College Football Weekly Poll.

COLLEGE PARK -- Loyola learned last night just why Maryland is the No. 1-ranked men's college soccer team in the nation. Bolstered by a few days of rest after upending UCLA and going on to win their own tournament Sunday, the Terrapins played virtually the entire game in their offensive end of the field and routed the young Greyhounds, 4-0, before 1,397 fans at Ludwig Field. Maryland (5-0) had its opponent on its heels the entire game, registered a 30-1 edge in shots and gave its goalkeeper, Noah Palmer, an easy night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - St. John's pulled off a big upset in men's college soccer yesterday, eliminating Maryland, 1-0, in the NCAA College Cup semifinals at Columbus Crew Stadium. The second-ranked and tournament-favorite Terrapins (20-3-1) outshot the Red Storm 25-9 but lost in the national semifinals for the second year in a row. "Anytime you come into a championship tournament like this, you expect your team to play like a championship team," said Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski. "We played like champions.

Laurel Park Candyman E favored in De Francis Dash Ten sprinters, including 2-1 favorite Candyman E, have been entered for the 20th running of the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash on Saturday at Laurel Park. The card also features the $75,000 Lady Baltimore Stakes and the $60,000 Twixt Stakes. Candyman E, the son of Candy Ride, has won three consecutive starts since arriving in the Tony Dutrow barn this July. Joe Bravo has the riding assignment. "He is in top form," Dutrow said of Candyman E. "I think he is best when he can sit off and make a run. An old friend thought the horse would be useful in the Northeast this summer and sent me to him. I am happy things have worked out well.

Women's college soccer Miami scores on both shots, tops No. 10 Terps No.10 Maryland, which won 3-0 on Thursday on just three shots on goal at No. 11 Florida State, 10 Maryland (8-3-4, 3-3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) was on the other side of things in a 2-1 loss at Miami on Sunday afternoon. The Hurricanes managed to get only two shots on goal, but both found the back of the net. "This one hurts," Maryland coach Brian Pensky said. "I think we're all still in a bit of shock that we lost this game.