No. 8 Maryland men’s soccer (8-2-4) hosts Delaware (4-9-2) in its final non-conference bout of the season and the final home match of the regular season Tuesday night.
Fresh off a 1-0 victory over Michigan State, the Terps have secured strong positioning heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Now sitting three points ahead of the next closest team, the Terps can secure the Big Ten regular season title with a draw or a win over Indiana on Sunday to finish up the conference season.
The win against the Spartans was a much-needed one for a team that hadn’t secured a win in its last three matches. Not only did the Terps secure the win, but they didn’t allow Michigan State to muster a single shot attempt throughout the 90 minute battle. It was the first time Maryland allowed zero shots in a match since 2006.
Coach Sasho Cirovski mentioned after the game that he was proud of his team’s full 90 minute effort, an accomplishment that may seem easier said than done.
In the matches leading up to Michigan State, Maryland took its foot off the gas at certain points and allowed its opponents to sneak up and steal a point – or three in High Point’s case – a habit that needed to be addressed before postseason play gets underway.
With the stifling defensive performance against a formidable opponent in Michigan State, Cirovski’s club returned to the defensive identity it had during its nine game unbeaten streak earlier in the season. It was the Terps’ first shutout since Sept. 30 against Old Dominion.
The offense also showed out for Maryland against the Spartans, as the Terps registered 13 shot attempts (eight on target) and looked more sharp than they had of recent note. Although the lone goal on the night came off a set piece from defender William Kulvik in the 13th minute, opportunities were plentiful, including three shots from midfielder Griffin Dillon (two on goal).
Dillon and Kulvik both have two goals on the season, three behind the team leader Malcolm Johnston. The midfielder’s five goals is tied for sixth-best in the conference.
Looking ahead to Delaware, this season certainly has not gone the way head coach Tommy McMenemy would have hoped. The Blue Hens currently rank second to last in the CAA conference with a .333 win percentage. They rank in the middle of the pack offensively and have allowed the most goals in the conference (28).
However, Delaware does have one dominant player that Maryland must contain in freshman forward Sam Donnellan. Donnellan is shaping up to be a stud for the next few years at the forefront of Delaware’s attack, as he’s accounted for eight goals on the season, good for 44% of the team’s total offense.
If the Terps can contain Donnellan, the team should be able to ride their way to win number nine in their final non-conference match before gearing up for Indiana to finish out the regular season.
The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will take place in Ludwig Field in College Park.
