Maryland Terrapins
Overall Rank: #5
#1 Big Ten
Maryland Team Page
Under Head Coach Sasho Cirovski, the Maryland Terrapins have established themselves as one of the premier soccer programs in the country. The Terrapins have made the NCAA Tournament 19 out of the last 20 seasons and have won a pair of national titles. Maryland is coming off a NCAA Finals appearance last season, but will now make the move to the Big Ten from the ACC. Maryland was a perennial power in the ACC, winning four out of the last six ACC Tournament titles, and they will now try to continue that success in the Big Ten.
2013 Record: 17-4-5, 7-1-3
2013 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Sasho Cirovski
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Michael Sauers, Sophomore, M, 5
Assists: Tsubasa Endoh, Junior, M, 6
Shots: Tsubasa Endoh, Junior, M, 38
Saves: Zach Steffen, Sophomore, GK, 76
Other Key Returnees: M Dan Metzger, D Mikey Ambrose, D Jereme Raley, D Alex Crognale, D Suli Dakineh, D Chris Odoi-Atsem
Key Losses: F Patrick Mullins, M Schillo Tschuma
Strengths:
Maryland should be solid in both the midfield and on the backline in 2014. Tsubasa Endoh, Dan Metzger and Michael Sauers all return to the midfield after starting last season. Metzger captained Maryland last season and made First Team All-ACC after an impressive campaign. The senior started all 26 games, playing over 2,000 minutes, and scored two goals and picked up an assist. Endoh started 25 of the Terrapins 26 games last season and was fourth on the team in points with 12, while Sauers made the ACC All-Freshman team after scoring five goals while starting 17 of the 24 games he appeared in. Maryland losses Schillo Tschuma, a first round pick in the 2014 MLS Super Draft, but his loss could be offset by the addition of Rutgers transfer Mael Corboz. The junior should fit well as the attacking mid in Maryland’s midfield after tying for the team-high on Rutgers team with 20 points last season, scoring seven goals and adding six assists. The Terrapins have nice depth behind those players, as a pair of players who appeared in at least 16 games last year and two high-impact freshmen will be in the mix for playing time. Mikias Eticha appeared in 19 games, starting 13, while Alex Shinsky saw action in 16 games, starting three. The Terrapins missed out on adding midfielder Roman Gall, who opted to sign with the Columbus Crew instead of heading to Maryland, but Jake Areman and George Campbell are two solid players. Both players ranked among the top 100 recruits nationally and could be in the mix to earn some starts early in their career. Defensively, Maryland is loaded, as they return their top six defenders and their goalkeeper. Mikey Ambrose, Jereme Raley, Chris Odoi-Atsem and Suli Dakineh all started at least 19 games for Maryland a year ago and will anchor the backline again. Pushing them for playing time will be sophomore Alex Crognale and junior Dakota Edwards. Crognale could have a legitimate shot at taking over a spot at center back this season. The 6-foot-5 center back started the first 12 games last season before giving way to Odoi-Atsem and Dakineh in the spot, but the Columbus Crew Academy product could have the highest upside of all the defenders. Maryland has a safety net behind the talented backline in goalkeeper Zach Steffen. A regular for the U.S. at the youth international levels, Steffen posted eight shutouts as a freshman, earning ACC All-Freshman tem honors and should improve on his impressive year.
Weaknesses:
With the loss of Patrick Mullins at forward, Maryland has a big hole to fill. Mullins led the nation in goals last year, scoring 19, and was essential to the Terrapins success. This year’s leading returnee up top, David Kabelik, appeared in just 16 games last season, scoring two goals. He will compete with several other players for the spot, but none have much experience at this level. The other three forwards on the roster, Reid Ryan, Emmanuel Korvah and Jeroen Meefout, have appeared in just two combined games at the college level. While Kabelik is the likely replacement, Coach Sasho Cirovski could opt to move a midfielder into the position. Campbell, Sauers and Shinsky are all listed as a MF/F on the roster and could be options if there isn’t enough production up front.
Final Projection:
Year in and year out, Maryland is consistently competitive, no matter what kind of production they lose from the year before. This year should be no different. The Terrapins have a big hole up top without Patrick Mullins, but with nearly everybody back in both the midfield and the backline, Maryland should be just fine. Maryland should be the favorite to win the Big Ten in their first season in the conference and a trip back to the NCAA Finals is not out of the question.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 2.04 (10th in nation, 1st in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 1.14 (75, 7)
Shutout Percentage: 0.31 (80, 7)
Save Percentage: 0.713 (154, 10)
Madness 2015 MLS Draft Rankings:
#22 Dan Metzger
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