Match Preview: No. 20 Maryland vs. Liberty

No. 20 Maryland (1-0-0) vs. Liberty (1-0-0)

August 28, 2022
Ludwig Field
7:00 pm EDT

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 20 Maryland men's soccer team will look to make it two wins out of two to start the season when they host Liberty Sunday night at Ludwig Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 o.m., and fans can watch the action on B1G+ and listen on WMUC.

THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES

Kicking off the season

Maryland began its 2022 season with a 2-1 win over No. 9 New Hampshire on opening night. Hunter George's first half volley put the Terps up 1-0 before Colin Griffith's first career goal in the second half proved to be the difference. The Terps held on to win, despite a late Wildcats goal, handing New Hampshire its first regular season loss since November of 2019.
The Terps' match with Liberty with feature a Sasho Cirovski sticker giveaway, with the first 300 fans getting a sticker featuring the hall of fame head coach.
The first Friday Night Lights match of the year takes place Friday Sept. 2 against Denver. The match will celebrate 20 seasons of Maryland's legendary student supporter section "The Crew". The first 2,000 students signed up for The Crew will receive special 20 Seasons of The Crew T-Shirts, presented by South Campus Commons. The first 400 students will get commemorative schedule cups and the first 200 students will be able to fill up on "Sasho's Crew Crunch" ice cream, presented by Terps After Dark. All fans have access to 100 autograph cards that will be given out.
Students can sign up for The Crew here.

Maryland Terrapins vs. New Hampshire at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

About the Terps

No. 20 Maryland enters the seasons following its 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. That streak is the second longest active streak in the nation.
The Terps feature returning 2021 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Joshua Bolma, 2021 All-Big Ten Second Team selection Niklas Neumann and 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection William Kulvik as well as returning starters Nick Richardson, Malcolm Johnston, Alex Nitzl, Chris Rindov and Hunter George.
The Terps added a talented incoming group of players, including first-team All-MAAC selection Stefan Copetti and two-time Division III Player of the Year German Giammattei. MLS NXT MVP Colin Griffith headlines the incoming freshmen class.
Maryland was picked third in the Big Ten preseason poll, behind defending regular season champion Penn State and defending tournament champion Indiana. Bolma, Neumann and Johnston were selected as Maryland's Big Ten Players to Watch. Bolma was also selected as a national player to watch by the United Soccer Coaches.

Midfielder Joshua Bolma (14)Maryland Terrapins vs. Marshall University at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

30 Seasons of Sasho

Hall of Fame head coach Sasho Cirovski is on the sidelines for his 30th season as the head coach of the Terps. Cirovski has led the Terps to a trio of national titles (2005, 2008, 2018) and 11 conference titles.
Cirovski's 29 NCAA Tournament appearances rank him first in the history of NCAA Division I soccer (27 at Maryland, two at Hartford). He has guided the Terps to nine appearances in the College Cup.
The star players that have come through College Park during Cirovski's tenure is a list unmatched in college soccer. He has produced 12 full USA internationals and made Maryland the only school with alums in the last four FIFA Men's World Cups.
Maryland will celebrate 30 season of Sasho on Oct. 14 against Wisconsin. The match will be played on Cirovski's birthday.

Maryland Terrapins vs. American in a preseason exhibition at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022.Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

20 Seasons of the Crew

Maryland men's soccer celebrates 20 seasons of The Crew, it's student supporters section, in 2022. The Sept. 2 match against Denver will serve as the "20 Seasons of The Crew" match.
Fans can also get an inside look at the origin and development of the most notorious fan section in college soccer on Aug. 29 when All-Access: The Crew, debuts. The mini documentary can be seen on Maryland Athletics' social channels, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. A trailer of the piece can be seen here.

A view of 2022

The Terps once against play a fall schedule highlighted by high profile fixtures at home and on the road.
At Ludwig Field, Friday Night Lights clashes against Denver (Sept. 2), Old Dominion (Sept. 30), Wisconsin (Oct. 14) and Michigan State (Oct. 21) highlight a home slate that also includes a huge Big Ten Tuesday Night match against a preseason conference favorite in Penn State (Sept. 20).
The Terps once again embark on DMV Derby Week, facing Virginia at Audi Field on Sept. 5 before traveling to take on Georgetown on Sept. 10.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Joshua Bolma: MF/F; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Hunter George: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#11 Malcolm Johnston: MF; 6' 0"; Senior

#96 William Kulvik: D; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#36 Niklas Neumann: GK; 6' 1"; Senior

#5 Alex Nitzl: D; 5' 11"; Junior

#22 Nick Richardson: D; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

#18 Chris Rindov: D; 6' 2"; Senior

#9 Colin Griffith: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#14 Joshua Bolma
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MF/F

#7 Hunter George
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#11 Malcolm Johnston
: 6' 0"; Senior
: MF

#96 William Kulvik
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: D

#36 Niklas Neumann
: 6' 1"; Senior
: GK

#5 Alex Nitzl
: 5' 11"; Junior
: D

#22 Nick Richardson
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: D

#18 Chris Rindov
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D

#9 Colin Griffith
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F