FRISCO, Texas -- On Nov. 12, Maryland beat North Carolina 2-1 at the ACC tournament. That loss was the fifth in a row for the Tar Heels and had many wondering how UNC would fare in the NCAA tournament.
Well, Carolina came alive, beating Jacksonville, Illinois-Chicago and Northwestern to reach the 2008 NCAA Men's College Cup, where on Friday night, they dispatched conference rival and reigning national champ Wake Forest 1-0 to reach Sunday afternoon's final, where they will face another league rival in Maryland, who has already beaten UNC twice this year.
Despite their struggles, Carolina never doubted that they would have a shot at playing for their first national title since 2001.
"I had no doubt in my mind," UNC senior midfielder Garry Lewis said. "I felt that we were more than capable. Coming into the season, we got on a roll quick and then we hit a slump. A lot of people wrote us off but we knew that we could turn a lot of heads and play the underdog role. I think we love that and thrive on that."
For UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich, playing such a familiar foe in the final might or might not provide an advantage for either team.
"I felt like it was good to know what Wake Forest was like having been through games with them so that we could prepare for them," he said. "Is it an advantage? We'll see. It's a championship game and you can't only focus on Maryland, you've got to perform because it's a championship game. We want to win that title. Whoever steps on the field against us that day is irrelevant."
Friendly rivalry: Maryland senior Graham Zusi was the big hero for the Terrapins on Friday when he converted a free kick for the game-winner in the 104th minute. On Sunday, he will face one of his former high school teammates from Lake Brantley H.S. in Longwood, Florida in Lewis.
"Defensively, Zusi, I played with him in high school and know him pretty well," Lewis said. "It's going to be good. He's really skilled technically, so I've just got to stay on my feet and hope everything goes for the best."
However, the two haven't just faced each other in the ACC, they also squared off once before while Lewis was at St. John's prior to his transferring to Chapel Hill.
"We played against each other in high school and we also played on the state and regional ODP teams," Lewis said. "He's a competitor. When I played at St. John's my freshman year, we played them in the Sweet 16 at College Park and he played in that game and so did I. They beat us and went on to win the national title. Every year since, Maryland has had the upper hand. Not only do I want to beat their whole team but with he and I playing, I'm friends with him but it's going to be good. It's a good, friendly, competitive relationship between us because we both want to win."
Only the beginning: The Terrapins head into Sunday's title tilt riding a 15-game winning streak. That run of greatness all started after a 5-3 loss at Clemson on Oct. 3. It's a setback that Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski and his players all remember very well.
"I think that bus ride home and that whole week was a challenge to the players on how soccer is won or lost," Cirovski said. "This is game that if you don't pay attention to the process and the little things, it can punish you. That's been our advantage. This is a team that I've had to coach less in the last six weeks than any other team I've ever had because they've bought into the respect for the game and the respect for the principles and process that entitles you to have the ability to succeed. I think that's kind of been our trademark."
Senior defender A.J. Delagarza also uses that loss as motivation.
"We were scored on five times -- the most we've ever been scored on in four years," he said. "Psychologically, the seniors took a step up after that game and took more of a leadership role. We had a leadership role, but we took more of a step forward to make sure something like that doesn't happen again. Since then, we haven't let in more than one goal a game. Collectively, we have all done a better job defensively and I think that's what has helped us."
Mutual admiration society: Not only are Maryland and North Carolina very familiar with one another as fellow members of the ACC, but there is also a high level of respect between the two coaches and their squads.
"Well, there is a reason why they're here -- they're a really strong team," Bolowich said. "They have good balance just like all four teams that were here. They have very few weaknesses and if we can find them, great and I hope we do. They're strong and experienced coming off a national championship in 2005. They have been going very deep in the playoffs in the last 10-12 years too. Sasho (Cirovski) has done a very good job, so they are really well organized. It will be another close game. It will be another of those typical ACC matches that you'll see."
And Cirovski's respect for UNC is apparent.
"I think we know each other very well," he said. "We're on a first name basis with all of their players. If you look at the history of all championship games, it can be one mistake that can make a difference. Precision on set pieces, precision on runs in the box and precision in making a game-saving clearance, a game-saving tackle or a game-saving save, those things will have to be done on both ends at some point in the game tomorrow. I just want us to be in the position to make those plays happen."
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