Checking In With the Defending National Champions

We borrowed Post soccer scribe Steve Goff for a story on the defending national champion Maryland men's soccer team. He writes about how Coach Sasho Cirovski has had to reload, especially after his entire back line from 2008 is now playing professionally. The Terrapins, ranked No. 8 in Soccer America's preseason poll, open the season tomorrow night in College Park against No. 9 UCLA, and a potentially record-breaking home crowd is expected. On Saturday, Maryland takes on California, just like the football team.