It's No. 2 vs. No. 3 as defending champion Maryland takes a six-game winning streak into its ACC men's showdown at North Carolina Friday night in the Fox Soccer Channel's NSCAA Match of the Week series (TV: live, 8 pm ET).
The No. 2 Terrapins lost last year's Hermann Trophy winner Jason Garey, who joined MLS's Columbus Crew, and Robbie Rogers, who signed with Dutch club Heerenveen, but they have been getting clutch scoring from Graham Zusi and Maurice Edu, and freshmen Jason Herrick and Jeremy Hall have been making big contributions.
North Carolina was ranked No. 1 in the Soccer America Preseason Men's Top 25, but the Teels have rarely dominated, despite their 10-2-1 record and five-game unbeaten streak. In their most recent outing, they had to settle for a 3-3 draw against lowly High Point in Chapel Hill.
Michael Callahan leads UNC with four goals and two assists, while Scott Campbell has notched three goals and three assists. Preseason All-American Ben Hunter has been limited to two goals and four assists.
- THURSDAY MEN'S ACTION
- UCLA continued its mastery over UC Santa Barbara with a 3-1 victory on Thursday night before a record 5,475 fans in Santa Barbara. Sal Zizzo set up Michael Stephens and Jason Leopoldo for first-half goals. David Estrada scored an insurance goal in in the 88th minute to clinch the win for the Bruins, who are unbeaten in their last 17 games with UCSB. For the second straight game, UCSB defender Greg Curry was sent off. The Gauchos have had six players ejected in their last three games.