No. 15 Maryland men’s soccer takes on No. 13 Michigan, first ranked Big Ten opponent

No. 15 Maryland men’s soccer (6-0-3, 2-0-2 Big Ten) will return home to Ludwig Field on Friday night for a top-15 matchup against No. 13 Michigan (6-1-3, 2-1-1 Big Ten). The matchup marks Maryland’s first time playing a ranked Big Ten opponent this season. 

After a scoreless draw against UCLA, Maryland remains unbeaten throughout the first nine games of the season – the Terps’ best start since 2017, when they went 10-0-3 throughout the first thirteen matches. 

Although neither team was able to find the back of the net last Friday, Maryland led UCLA in shots 12 to nine, with two on goal for each team. 

Sophomore Stephane Njike tallied one of the Terps’ shots on goal and recorded two shots, along with senior and fellow forward Sadam Masereka. The duo passed the ball to one another for the first goal attempt of the match, but Masereka’s shot was too wide. 

Maryland’s defense was a brick wall against the Bruins’ offense with the help of defenders Lasse Kelp and Tristen Rose. Redshirt sophomore forward Sergi Solans Ormo, UCLA’s leading goal-scorer, fired one of the Bruins’ two shots on goal, but was stopped by the defensive pairing. 

The Terps’ offense was determined to score a goal towards the end of the match with three shots within 30 seconds, but none of the shots found their target.

The last time these teams faced off in 2024, the Terps fell to the Wolverines 0-2. Maryland has a slight advantage over Michigan with a 6-5-3 record in the all-time series. Maryland has not defeated Michigan since 2022, when they won 2-1. 

Similar to the Terps, Michigan is coming off a 0-0 draw against Rutgers on Sunday. The Wolverines outshot Rutgers 17 to six with five on goal. 

Michigan’s defense has only allowed 66 shots from opponents, whereas Maryland’s defense has conceded 84 shots from opponents. The Wolverines (eight) have allowed one more goal than the Terps (seven) so far this season, though.

Three Wolverines to watch for are graduate midfielder/forward Quin Rogers,  graduate midfielder Shuma Sasaki and junior forward Grayson Elmquist. 

Sasaki leads Michigan in shots with 29 and shots on goal with 11. The midfielder recorded six of Michigan’s shots in its recent match against Rutgers, including four on goal. Sasaki is within the top 50 nationally in shots.

Elmquist is close behind Sasaki with 18 shots. The forward recorded seven shots, three shots on goal and his second goal of the season against Chicago State. 

Rogers leads the Wolverines in goals with four so far this season. The graduate students are tied in first place for most points with eight apiece.

Sophomore goalkeeper Laurin Mack has an advantage over Michigan’s junior Isaiah Goldson in save percentage. Mack holds a 0.816 save percentage compared to Goldson’s 0.667.