Aug. 28, 2015
DATE: Aug. 28, 2015
TIME: 5 p.m. (ET)
LOCATION: Bloomington, Ind. (Bill Armstrong Stadium — cap. 5,000)
LAST MEETING: ND, 2-1 (12/15/13 at NCAA final)
BROADCAST: BTN Plus (BTN2Go)
LIVE STATS: IUHoosiers.com
TWITTER: @NDMenSoccer
TICKETS: Adults $5, youth (ages 3-18) $3; 1-866-IUSPORTS
Leading up Friday’s 5 p.m. (ET) kickoff in game one of the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic between the No. 4/10 University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team and No. 13/6 Maryland, here are the key game details you need to know about both teams.
IRISH AGAINST MARYLAND
Notre Dame is 2-2-1 in its all-time series against Maryland, defeating the Terrapins 2-1 during the most recent meeting between the teams in the NCAA Championship final on Dec. 15, 2013 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Irish are 1-1-0 all-time against Maryland in matches played at a neutral site.
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
No. 13/6 Maryland returns 15 veterans from its 2014 team that posted a 13-6-3 record and earned a bid into the NCAA Championship. The Terrapins claimed the Big Ten tournament championship during their first season as a conference member with a 2-1 win over Indiana on Nov. 16 in College Park.
Senior midfielder Mael Corboz is the leading returning Maryland scorer after tallying 10 goals and three assists last season. Corboz was a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kick attempts, and five of his 10 goals were ultimate game-winners.
Head coach Sasho Cirovski enters his 24th season at Maryland with a 344-126-37 (.715) record. Cirovski led the Terrapins to NCAA Championship victories in 2005 and 2008, as well as additional College Cup appearances in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2012 and 2013. Cirovski is a one-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year honoree, receiving the award in 2005.
NOTRE DAME IN SEASON OPENERS
Over its first 38 seasons as a varsity program, Notre Dame is 23-10-5 (.671) in season openers. The Irish are unbeaten in inaugural regular season contests since 2011, and are 5-3-2 in the past 10 lid lifters after downing Marquette 2-1 on Aug. 29 of last season to open the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic.
Head coach Bobby Clark is 8-3-3 (.679) in his Notre Dame career in season openers, including eight total results against top 25 opponents.
SEASON’S BEGINNINGS IN BLOOMINGTON
For the 13th straight season, Notre Dame takes its initial regular season road trip to Bloomington to compete at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic at Armstrong Stadium. The Irish, No. 13/6 Maryland, No. 14/13 Indiana and St. John’s comprise the 2015 tournament field.
Notre Dame has claimed at least a share of the last three adidas/IU Credit Union Classic tournament crowns, logging a 12-6-5 (.630) record at the event since 2003. The Irish and host Indiana will play one another during the tournament for the first time since Sept. 3, 2006, a 5-4 Notre Dame victory in overtime.
OFFENSIVE EXPERIENCE RETURNING IN 2015
Notre Dame returns 23 of 35 goals, 23 of 31 assists and 69 of 101 points from last season’s roster in 2015. Five Irish returners, Patrick Hodan, Evan Panken, Jeffrey Farina, Jon Gallagher and Brandon Aubrey, appeared in all 21 matches in 2014.
Season and single game tickets for Notre Dame men’s soccer are on sale now. Visit und.com/tickets or call the Murnane Family Ticket Office at 574-631-7356.
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant