Aug. 22, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Talented and hungry. Experienced and youthful.

There's a lot for head coach Sasho Cirovski to like about his University of Maryland men's soccer team for 2008. The Terrapins will go into the season with a number of veterans who have experienced success before, blending in a promising freshman class tabbed by CollegeSoccerNews.com as the best group of newcomers in the country.

The depth created by strong competition at a number of positions and the leadership of five seniors gives Maryland's veteran coach great reason for optimism heading into his 16th year at the school.

"This is the most experienced squad we will have returned since the 2005 season," Cirovski said, noting the year Maryland won the NCAA National Championship. "It's a very talented and hungry group.

"I feel like we'll have more competition at every position. We have some players who've gained experience due to the departures to the pros and injuries we've had the last two years. I think the last couple years have left our players wanting more. Hopefully that hunger and determination will parlay to success.

"We've got very good balance," said Cirovski. "The back line returns virtually intact, we're stronger in goal, we return two or three midfielders and the entire forward line is back.

"We've also added an incredibly talented freshman class. The internal competition for spots and playing time will be tougher, which will be both a blessing and a challenge for the coaches."

That group will be counted on to replace All-American and Hermann Trophy semifinalist Stephen King, who finished his four-year career as the all-time leader in games started. King led the Atlantic Coast Conference and was second in the nation last season with 13 assists.

Cirovski noted two areas of targeted improvement that are critical for Maryland to improve on its 10-6-5 mark from a year ago.

"First, we need to stay healthy in key areas," he said. "Second, we need to find at least one big-time goal-scoring threat who can win games for us. We need someone who can score goals out of nothing. It's always nice to have a consistent game-winner."

The culture of success and chemistry both within the team and between the team and its fans are other consistent advantages that Maryland holds over every team in the nation. The Terrapins, who closed the regular season last year with a 10-game unbeaten string, come into the new year having reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in six straight years.

GOALKEEPERS

Will Swaim started 12 games for the Terps as a freshman a year ago and will be involved in a three-way battle for playing time this season. Swaim finished with four shutouts in his 12 starts, allowing just 12 goals and playing to a 0.89 goals-against average.

"Will has tremendous self-confidence and seems to rise to the challenge," said Cirovski. "He's courageous and is maturing into a very confident goalkeeper. He's a good shot-stopper and reads the game well."

Freshman Zac MacMath was the top goalkeeper in the nation coming out of high school, according to Cirovski, and will be part of the battle for playing time. MacMath was the national team goalkeeper for the U.S. Under-17 team.

"Technically, he's highly advanced for his age," said Cirovski. "He's very sharp and has great distribution skills. He's mature beyond his years."

Aaron Chinn is one of five seniors on the Maryland roster and has improved in each of his four seasons, according to Cirovski, who says Chinn is a "great role model and a great teammate."

DEFENSE

Maryland returns three starters from a group that allowed just over one goal per game and posted six shutouts in 21 games. The back line includes 2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Omar Gonzalez, Rich Costanzo and A.J. Delagarza, a veteran trio which combined for 61 starts in 2007.

"The back line should be a strength, we have three experienced starters," said Cirovski. "One question in the preseason will be who plays left back, or do we move Delagarza there. Sean Flatley and Kevin Tangney could compete for starting time at either center back or left back."

Gonzalez was a third-team All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America a year ago and was an All-ACC pick. Costanzo notched four assists last year and is one of the five seniors on this year's squad. Delagarza is a tough-minded, competitive defender who helps anchor the group.

Cirovski will also look at a configuration that has returning Rodney Wallace at either center back or at midfield.

Juniors Kwame Darko and Greg Young will compete for time at an outside back position, along with one or two of the talented group of freshmen.

MIDFIELDERS

Wallace was a first-team selection on Soccer America's All-Freshman Team a year ago and will open on the right side. He was one of four Terrapins who started all 21 games a year ago and his seven goals were second on the team.

Jeremy Hall is expected to start on the left side and returns off a 14-point season in which he earned second team All-ACC honors. Hall, now a junior, was the ACC's Freshman of the Year in 2006.

Doug Rodkey, a junior who appeared in 19 games last year, and Drew Yates, who led Maryland with eight goals on only 20 shots in 2007, will play at the outside midfield positions.

Senior Michael Marchiano is a returning captain and will play in a defensive midfield role. Cirovski expects some competition for playing time between freshman Matt Kassel and Tangney. Billy Cortes had a pair of goals last year as a forward and will figure into the mix at outside midfield. Kaoru Forbess is a talented freshman that is recovering from a back injury and his progress will determine his playing time.

With tremendous depth and experience in the midfield, Cirovski and his staff could present a number of different lineups and scenarios.

"We're going into this season very open-minded," he said. "We could play with three, four or five midfielders. We might look at some alternatives."

FORWARDS

Graham Zusi was Maryland's leading scorer last year with 18 points, and also topped the offense with 49 shots. He is another of Maryland's five seniors this year.

"Graham started the season well and finished the season well last year," Cirovski said. "He's finally embraced everything we've asked him to do in the off-season. He's an extremely talented player and is highly motivated going into his senior year."

Jason Herrick did not play last year and is coming off two knee injuries. He scored 13 points in 17 games as a freshman for the Terps in 2006.

Casey Townsend is one of the freshmen who may make an instant impact on the Terrapins' offense this season. He played on the U.S. Under-20 Team in the Mill Cup competition. Townsend arrived on campus in time for spring drills and "got better every game in the spring," according to Cirovski. Townsend scored in three of Maryland's five spring games.

Freshmen Alex Lee, Conor O'Leary and Matt Oduaran are also expected to compete for time at either forward or midfielder.

SCHEDULE

Maryland's schedule continues to be one of the toughest in the nation and will open with a trip to Los Angeles for a nationally televised matchup with UCLA and a battle with California.

The Terrapins will face eight teams that participated in the 2007 NCAA Tournament and will again battle in the always-tough Atlantic Coast Conference, noted as the toughest league in the nation. The ACC finished the 2007 season with three teams in the top eight and six of the nine league teams ranked in the top-25 in the final NSCAA poll.

"The schedule is tough, it's typical of a Maryland soccer schedule," said Cirovski. "Last year we got off to a slow start, so we'll have to guard against that."

Maryland returns home for seven straight games after the L.A. trip, but then faces difficult road games in October with Clemson, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

"It's a grueling schedule, but it's also very exciting," said Cirovski. "On any given day, if we're not at our best, we're going to lose. That's what we need to prepare for the ACC and NCAA Tournament.

The Terrapins' first home game is Sept. 5 against Hartford. Maryland's first match in the ACC is against defending regular-season champion Boston College on Sept. 12 at Ludwig Field.