Jeff Carroll knows the way to College Park.
Less than two weeks ago, Carroll finished his rookie season with D.C. United. Although he didn’t play college soccer in the Washington area, Carroll’s previous two seasons ended at Maryland when his alma mater, St. John’s, lost in consecutive NCAA tournaments appearances against the Terrapins.
Tonight, for the fourth straight season, St. John’s meets Maryland in the postseason.
“I guess they’re saving money or something, but honestly, how many times are you going to put St. John’s up against Maryland?” said Carroll. His family wants him to go Morgantown to cheer on younger brother Pat Carroll as West Virginia hosts UNC-Greensboro, but Jeff is looking forward to the raucous atmosphere at Ludwig Field. “They’re going to have more than 6,000 fans there. It’s going to be nuts.”
Each meeting in the growing rivalry has come earlier than the season before. St. John’s last win was in 2003, when the Red Storm topped the Terps, 1-0, in the national semifinals. But the Terps turned the tide in 2004 with A.J. Godbolt’s late winner in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory. Last year Stephen King scored twice as Maryland won, 3-1, in the Sweet Sixteen, and went on to capture a national title.
Carroll cannot remember whether he was taunted at Ludwig Field, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
“They must’ve said something,” said Carroll.
The Terrapins’ rise has coincided with its new tradition of postseason clashes with the Red Storm. Maryland made the first of four straight NCAA Final Four appearances in 2002, and this season set a home field attendance record of 6,489 against Duke on Sept. 29.
St. John’s last won a national title in 1996, and its pedigree may be second only to the Terps. Behind rookie sensation Ryan Soroka (9 goals, 8 assists), St. John’s won the BigEast title this season and may not be intimidated by the ruthless Terrapin fans.
“We need to be ready to play in a great atmosphere which the Maryland administration and [Maryland coach] Sasho [Cirovski] have been able to create over the last four or five years,” said St. John’s coach Dave Basur. “We have to be ready to play in that kind of that environment.”
St. John’s (14-5-2) at Maryland (15-4-1)
NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament
Second Round
» When: Tonight, 7
» Where: Ludwig Field, College Park
