Maryland in College Cup Final

Three years in a row, Maryland's path to a national title was halted by a one-goal loss in the College Cup semifinals. The route headed south this year, and for 43 scoreless minutes Friday evening, the possibility of another disappointment hung over SAS Soccer Stadium.

Then Jason Garey and the nation's second-ranked offense unleashed one of the most impressive scoring displays in College Cup history, and the hurdle fell. Maryland's 4-1 victory over Southern Methodist sent the top-seeded Terps into Sunday's final against New Mexico.

Maryland last appeared in an NCAA final in 1968, when the Terps(18-4-2) earned a share of their only national title. After losing in the national semifinals three years in a row, players said they entered this year's College Cup with a more relaxed attitude, paying less attention to the hoopla that surrounds college soccer's final weekend.

The Terps are also used to the competition; this season alone, Maryland faced 14 nationally-ranked opponents. And, of course, they are used to the stage, thanks to three consecutive trips to the final four.