Dec. 16, 1999

College Park, Md.-- - Sophomore defender Dan Califf (Orange, Calif.) has decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility at the University of Maryland and declare himself eligible for the MLS draft which will be held in early February. The 6-1 center back led a Maryland defense that was second in the ACC in scoring defense (0.89 gpg) and second in shutouts with nine.

"Danny emerged this season as one of the premier defenders, if not the best defender, in the country," says Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski. "He has a great shot at making the 2000 Olympic team and will be a tremendous addition to any MLS team that selects him. He's been a tremendous asset to our program for the past two years and though I am sorry to see him go, I am in full support of his decision to turn pro and to pursue his dream of being a professional soccer player. I'm proud to have coached him for two years as a Maryland Terrapin and I wish him the very best."

Califf has been invited and will attend the U.S. Olympic camp in early January in San Diego, Calif. The first-team All-ACC selection is one of an elite group of college players selected to attend the camp. A third-team NSCAA All-American this past season, Califf had two goals for the Terps who were ranked in the top ten most of the season, even receiving the program's first No. 1 ranking ever from Soccer America.

"I feel I have grown tremendously over my past two years here at Maryland, which I believe is the best program in the country," comments Califf. "It was a very difficult decision to leave because it is a tight family, but I felt it was time for me to move on and pursue my dream."

Maryland reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive year in 1999, and finished the year at 14-6 overall. Califf leaves the Terps with three goals and three assists for his career.