Men's Soccer Primed for B1G Home Opener Friday
9/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Terrapins face off against No. 16 Michigan State Friday on a night in which the fans at Ludwig Field get acquainted with a new conference.
“It's a big day on our campus,” said Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski. “We're the first men's Big Ten match of any sport so I think it's going to be an electric atmosphere.”
The Terps began their conference schedule at Michigan last week, managing a tie after David Kabelik's goal knotted it up with 22 seconds left in regulation. The game helped prepare the team for the road ahead in a strong conference, according to senior captain Dan Metzger.
“During practice we've just been focusing on getting the intensity going,” the preseason All-American said. “With the Big Ten conference games, we've learned from Michigan it's going to be a battle and we know that we're just going to have to fight through these games.”
After five contests, the Terps are just 1-2-2, but such early-season waters have been charted before. Last year yielded the same results through five games en route to becoming ACC Champions and the national runner-up.
The key lies in the midfield keeping possession to help create opportunities for the forwards as well as sharpening the attack, according to Cirovski. The Maryland coach, in his 22nd season at Maryland, said he feels his team has played equal or better to their opponents thus far, but with just five goals in five games, must find the back of the net to prove it.
The Spartans spell an especially exciting billing for the inaugural Big Ten match in College Park, with family ties on both sides. Cirovski's brother played soccer for the new rival, while the wife of Michigan State head coach Damon Rensing played volleyball at Maryland.
The two programs shared a national championship in 1968 after tying in the finals. Michigan State escaped College Park with a win during their last of six meetings in 2010, edging the Terps, 4-3. The Spartans lead the all-time series 4-1-1.
With vengeance in mind, Maryland's scarf-laden spirit squad, better known as The Crew, will be sure to give Michigan State an earful. The first 2,000 Crew members will receive scarves, and will be ready to show the Big Ten what decade-long support for a dominant soccer program looks like.
“The anticipation is ridiculous,” said Crew president Dylan French. “We always like to have one game a year where we have a chance to break the attendance record and I think tomorrow night can definitely be our big chance for the year to do that.”
Not only will the fans be showing up to prove something to opponents on the new conference stage. The Terps look to begin cementing their place in a league that Cirovski hopes will command the college soccer sphere.
“Our goal is to help make the Big Ten the best conference in the country,” said Cirovski. “Whether that's this year or a few years from now, that's what we want to do.”
 |
Ben Strack, a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland, is a contributing writer to umterps.com. |
