When University of Maryland forward Casey Townsend stepped onto Ludwig Field for the first time in the fall of 2008, he looked up at the packed stadium surrounding him and knew he was part of something special.

“When I first walked out there, I got chills,” he remembers. “The stadium was full; I had never played in front of so many people. It definitely gave me a little extra something, seeing all those faces in the crowd, fellow students, knowing they were all there to cheer us on.”

It’s a feeling many of Townsend’s teammates are familiar with.

Because at Maryland, unlike many other Division I schools, soccer occupies a top spot in the sports hierarchy.

Football and basketball remain popular, but the profile of the Terrapins’ soccer program is rising quickly, and a seat at Ludwig Field is the hottest ticket in town during the season. That’s what two national championships in four years (2005 and 2008) will do.

And that’s why next Friday’s showdown with the University of Virginia is generating so much buzz.

Like Maryland, UVA’s soccer program has a long and rich history of success – having won a total of six national titles, including in 2009 – and has generated a devoted following from its student body over the past several decades.

So these two programs are unique. Not only have they won championships, but they have won the hearts and minds of their communities. They have created a true soccer culture – a rare asset in a country where soccer is usually banished to the athletic backwoods.

Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski talked about the significance of Maryland’s soccer culture, and about what it took to build his program from the ground up.

“When I came here [in 1993], my goal was to build the program to elite level,” he said. “But real growth is a process that takes patience and persistence. To build a culture that lasts the test of time, you need to start with good people, and you need to win.

“We brought in some good players early on – Russell Payne, Shane Doherty, Leo Cullen come to mind – and we started winning some games. Then of course, success begets success, so our fan following and soccer culture sort of took off from there.”

Virginia coach George Gelnovatch echoed Cirovski, adding that it takes a certain kind of attitude to build a culture of winning, and that it’s often the little things that count.

“We try to instill a sense of discipline on our team, but we also try to keep the mood light,” he said. “Our players are expected to greet coaches with a handshake, and we don’t allow cell phones or texting in the locker room. But we think everyone – coaches, players – should be talking, interacting and having fun.

“Our core beliefs – discipline, leadership, teamwork, mental and physical toughness – all tie into what we’re about. That culture feeds on itself, and the young guys learn very quickly the nuances of behavior and interaction that are expected of them.”

And so far, that discipline and commitment to winning has paid off for both of these programs.

It isn’t unusual for either team to draw 4000 students to a regular season match, a number that can climb to over 5000 for rivalry games against other Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

And with both of these programs playing in the ACC, next Friday’s game promises to be a barn-burner. 

“We want to win,” Gelnovatch said. “We might try some new things during the game that we wouldn’t do during the regular season, but I’ll put our strongest team on the field. We’re competitors, rivals, so it’ll be a hotly contested game.” 

Maryland coach Cirovski agreed.

“We look at this not just as a training game,” he said, “but a chance to see how some of our kids do in the competitive cauldron, how they react to pressure.”

And as far as the Terrapin student fan-base is concerned, Cirovski said he feels the love, and he wants to keep it coming. 

“I think [our fans] enjoy the way we play, the fact that we compete in every game,” he said. “It’s a real source of pride, our relationship with the student body, and it’s a testament to the culture and relationships we have built over time.”

“We’ve been able to build a brand that the fans here appreciate. People want to hear our story, and we’re happy to tell it. Because our story is still being written on the field.”
 
So take notice, soccer fans. It’s story time for Maryland.

We'll see you Friday night at the Maryland Soccerplex.