No. 10 Maryland Men's Soccer Season Preview
8/28/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After weathering two years of injuries that would make most coaches have nightmares, Maryland's soccer program and head coach Sasho Cirovski are looking forward to a year where the biggest challenges are tackled on the field against the opponent and not in the training room.
There's a lot to be excited about for Maryland soccer fans. The Terps lost only three starters and four players overall from the 2001 team that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Back for the Terps are tri-captains redshirt-sophomore midfielder Scott Buete, sophomore forward Abe Thompson and junior defender Seth Stammler. Additionally, Sumed Ibrahim, the Terps' leading scorer last season with 31 points, will be back in the midfield for another go-around. Despite the absence of a senior class, the Terps have the experience necessary to be an elite team again this season.
"For me, the last two years have been a real awakening dealing with the realities of missing key guys for long periods of time," said head coach Sasho Cirovski. "It's the first time that has happened and it has happened two years in a row. That's been very frustrating. I think that in some ways the lessons of the past year have been really good for the program and for me because it has tested us in ways that maybe we weren't tested in my first seven years.
"I feel like it may have been the right and natural process for us to go through to appreciate the success that we are going to have the next couple of years. I'm excited. I think it's been humbling, but it's made our resolve even greater to get back and do things."
To combat the effect injury depletion has had on his ability to substitute and keep fresh legs in the game, Cirovski has expanded his roster from 20 to 24. Cirovski, now entering his 10th season at Maryland, has indicated that aside from that change, it's back to the business of playing Maryland soccer this year, a style of college soccer which includes gutsy attacks that originate as much with the backs as from the midfielders and forwards, and a strong frontline fit to challenge any defensive unit.
Forwards
At the end of the 2001 season, a season that saw the Terrapins go 11-9-1, the thing Sasho Cirovski felt was missing most was a consistent ability to put pressure on opposing defenses. The 2002 season should not hold the same challenges. Redshirt-sophomore Abe Thompson, the Terps' leading scorer two years ago, sat out last season but will return after rehabbing a break in his right foot. Thompson leads a stable of talent, including high school All-American A.J. Herrera, and sophomore Clarence Goodson, who adds a great deal of height to the Terps' attack.
New faces in the forward area include U.S. Under-17 striker Erwin Diaz and transfer Nino Marcantonio, who earned All-America recognition during his time at nearby American. After undergoing tremendous growth and maturity since his days with the Eagles, Marcantonio, who was expected to step in and help Maryland's attack immediately, was slowed by a fracture this summer in his foot, but should be ready to go when practice begins in August. Louisiana native Jason Garey rounds out the Terps' attacking players and should also be a solid option for the Terps.
According to Cirovski, "For a team that's prided itself on its attack, the last two years have been somewhat frustrating. I'm looking forward to becoming a potent team with our attack again. If it comes to fruition, I believe that some other players who have played prominent roles in the midfield and the back will flourish as their roles should be a little more simplified. As a result we should be able to achieve better execution in all parts of the field."
Midfield
The midfield, an area that will not undergo a complete personnel overhaul for the first time in several years, is perhaps the Terps' biggest strength this year.
2001 leading scorer Sumed Ibrahim will lead the unit to the goal with his blazing speed while redshirt-sophomore Scott Buete, serving as one of Maryland's tri-captains this year, brings his outstanding leadership to the unit. Buete's versatility may transition him into a more defensive role this season, depending on how the Terps' shape up.
According to Cirovski, "Scottie could play a lot of different places. We like to have our outside backs attack, and Scott played a little outside back his freshman year. That certainly may be a place that he plays, but we're going to let the preseason determine a number of different places.
"We have eight quality newcomers coming in and we've got three guys that were not healthy last year. When you look at it, the preseason is going to determine a lot of things." The duo is joined by Siba Mohammed, and Michael Dello-Russo, who both saw extensive playing time last season, as well as Jason Arnold and Domenic Mediate, returners that will play both attacking roles up front and in the midfield.
Mediate's contributions should increase tremendously now that the torn hernias that plagued him last year and kept him at about 50-percent performance have healed. Junior Bryan Vitagliano is also hoping for a healthy season after playing last season at less than 100 percent while still contributing greatly to the Terps' cause.
New on the scene are Pat Wilson and A.J. Godbolt, who will both benefit from playing with the experienced Terps in the middle and should add to the Maryland lineup's power.
"The fact that we didn't lose any midfielders is a great sign," said Cirovski. "This is the first time in awhile where we will not rely on incoming freshmen to play major roles in our midfield and I think that should be a strength of our team."
Defense
Tri-captain Seth Stammler anchors the defense from the center back position, and will need to fill some big shoes after the departure of All-American Beckett Hollenbach and All-ACC performer Philip Salyer. Stammler has emerged as one of the strongest links for Maryland after beginning his Terrapin career as a striker and moving to the defense.
"Losing Beckett, our main leader in the back last season, leaves us a little exposed there. However, Seth is one tough player; I really believe that he'll be one of the best defenders in the ACC this year," comments Cirovski. "I think last year we were a little slow at the back, and Seth gives us the speed, toughness and ability to clear balls under pressure with both feet. There's no question he's going to play a huge role this fall."
Veteran starters of the backline last year, Chris Gormley and Ian Rodway return to flank Stammler's central presence. U.S. Under-17 team defender Chris Lancos will have an immediate impact on the defense. Sophomore Ellis Welker saw limited time in the back last year, and is joined by newcomers Kenney Bertz and David Glaudemans.
Goalkeeper
Noah Palmer, Maryland's 2001 starter, returns as the frontrunner to have the same net duties this season. Palmer got stronger and more confident in goal for the Terrapins last season, and his presence grew as the season progressed.
Craig Salvati will join Palmer in the net, and showed vast improvement this past spring, which should continue in the fall.
The Schedule
Maryland's schedule, wrought with the challenges the ACC holds as one of the toughest soccer conferences in the country, has taken on new non-conference opponents that make the Terps' season even tougher and more exciting all at the same time.
The exhibition season won't be an easy one for Maryland. It begins against DC United in College Park and is closed out by a trip to Columbus to meet Ohio State at Columbus Crew Stadium.
The Virginia Soccer Classic awaits the Terps over Labor Day, with Rhode Island and Kentucky, two 2001 NCAA teams, going head-to-head with the Terps. Maryland's FILA Classic welcomes the Cavaliers to College Park and brings in Big Ten power Penn State and regional rival Virginia Commonwealth to challenge the Terps. A trip to Connecticut in October highlights an already intense non-conference schedule for Maryland.
"I wanted to stay with the same theme of having one of the toughest schedules in the country and I'm excited about the quality of opposition that we will face. We are playing a lot of tough games in the very beginning, when I'm hoping we're the healthiest," said Cirovski.
"All the injuries over the past two years have been a good evaluation of all things that have gone right and some things that haven't gone right," commented Cirovski. "I think sometimes, unless you go through some tough times, you don't really appreciate some of the things that you've had and some of the successes that you've had and I think it's been really good. "I'm excited to get going, I think we've payed a heavy price and hopefully there are some good things in store for us, finally."
