University of Maryland Athletics

Men's Soccer 8/23/2024 4:06:00 PM

Terps Host No. 16 Georgetown in Home Opener Sunday Night

Maryland (0-0-1) vs. Georgetown (0-1-0)

August 25, 2024

Ludwig Field

7:45 p.m.

B1G+

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The Maryland men's soccer team opens its 2024 home slate against No. 16 Georgetown at Ludwig Field on Sunday night. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. and the match will air on B1G+.

The Terrapins are coming off a season opening 1-1 draw with UMBC in Baltimore Thursday night. Luke van Heukelum tallied for the Terps in the match.

Match Day Promotions

The Crew T-Shirt: First 1,500 Crew Members, presented by Terps After Dark.
Terps After Dark Ice Cream: First 300 Students.

Series History - Georgetown

Maryland leads the all-time series with Georgetown 30-5-2. The Terps won 28 consecutive games in the series between 1952-2009. The Terps and Hoyas were scheduled to play last season in College Park, but the game was canceled due to weather. The two sides last meeting came in 2022, a 2-1 Maryland win at Georgetown.
The two programs, separated by under 10 miles, are among college soccer's elite, winning back-to-back national titles in 2018 (Maryland) and 2019 (Georgetown). The Terps have advanced to 23 of the last 24 NCAA Tournaments while the Hoyas have been to 11 of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments.

Colin Griffth battles Georgetown players in the Terps 2-1 win over the Hoyas in 2022

PREVIewING THE TERPS

After a season not up to the high standards of Maryland Men's Soccer, a combination of hungry returners and talented newcomers will try and forge a winning identity as the Terps look to return to the top of college soccer.
Read our season preview, featuring words from head coach Sasho Cirovski, team captain Alex Nitzl and Yale transfer Max Rogers.

Forward Max Rogers (11) Maryland vs. Rider at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

Yale transfer Max Rogers will be a big piece for the Terps' attack after a standout career in the Ivy League

BIG TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH

Graduate student midfielder Alex Nitzl, graduate student center back Bjarne Thiesen and senior William Kulvik were named Big Ten Players to Watch, the league announced Wednesday.
Nitzl, a two-time team captain, enters his final season in College Park with 52 matches under his belt. With his ability to patrol the midfield and play any spot along the back line, he has established himself as one of the most versatile players in the country.
Thiesen, who came to Maryland after an All-American season at West Virginia in 2022, will once again team with Kulvik, a 2023 All-Big Ten selection, as the Terps' center back pairing. The two have combined to play 110 matches in their careers.
Maryland's other rostered player with past Big Ten plaudits is left back Luca Costabile, who was named an All-Freshman team selection in 2022. Fellow veteran Dalton Hass could also feature in an outside back spot for the Terps and the versatile Mack DeVries and Brian St. Martin can play multiple positions along the back line.

Defender William Kulvik (97)Maryland vs. Old Dominion (EXH) at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023, center back William Kulvik will help lead the Terps back line again in 2024.

Welcome the NEWCOMERS

The Terrapins have welcomed 12 newcomers, a combination of freshmen and transfers that will bolster the roster for the 2024 season.
One of Maryland's most intriguing new additions is transfer Sadam Masereka, a dynamic attacking player who scored 22 goals and added seven assists in two seasons at Lindsey Wilson College. Yale transfer Max Rogers will also add to the attack after a first-team All-Ivy League season in 2023. The freshmen quartet of Mikkel Lejbowicz, Travis Thompson, Jameson Michel and Aidan Sheppela will also look to play roles in a Terps' attack that will look to return to form this fall.
Maryland has become stronger between the posts with the additions of Brown transfer Hudson Blatteis, a Second-Team All-Ivy League selection in 2023, and freshman Laurin Mack from SC Freiburg of the German Bundesliga, who gained valuable experience with the Terps after joining the squad in the spring. They'll compete with talented sophomore Saxon Wolcott for playing time.
The back line will be infused with two freshman talents in Baltimore native Jace Clark and Tampa's Alexi Mihalek. The transfer additions of Chris Steinleitner (Eastern Florida) and Joel Brown (Saint Leo) give the Terps additional experience in the defense.
The Terps also have newcomers on staff, joining Cirovski and longtime assistant coach Jake Pace, with Brian Rowland and Michael Gould joining as assistants. Rowland is no stranger to success at Maryland after serving on staff with Cirovski from 2010-17. He helped the Terps win 123 games, 10 conference trophies and advance to two College Cups, including the national championship game in 2013. Rowland spent the 2023 season with UMBC and previously was the head coach at Temple from 2018-22. Gould was an assistant coach at Chestnut Hill College in 2023, primarily working with goalkeepers, and he will continue to tutor that position in College Park.

Forward Sadam Masereka (7)Maryland vs. Old Dominion (EXH) at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

Uganda native Sadam Masereka brings his electric attacking play to the Terps after a pair of decorated seasons at Lindsey Wilson College

EXHIBITION SZN

The Terps picked up a pair of home exhibition victories over Rider and Old Dominion in the lead-up to the 2024 campaign.
Maryland's returning attacking players were on display as junior Colin Griffith and sophomore Luke van Heukelum tallied during exhibition action, including a hat trick from van Heukelum against Rider. The two will look for breakout seasons in 2024 and will be joined by returners Max Riley and Cameron Gerber in the Maryland attack.
Sophomores Leon Koehl and Kenny Quist-Therson featured in the Terps' midfield this preseason after seasons in which they debuted in the center of the park. Junior Matias de Jesus will fill a greater role in 2024, while Cirovski and the Terps hope for the full return of Albi Ndrenika, who missed all of 2023 due to injury after expecting to be a key piece in the midfield.

Forward Luke van Heukelum (44)Maryland vs. Rider at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

Luke van Heukelum will look to continue his growth in 2024 after four goals and five assists in his freshman campaign

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#3 Luca Costabile: D; 5' 11"; Junior

#4 Mack DeVries: D; 6' 1"; Junior

#14 Cameron Gerber: MF/F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

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

#34 Dalton Hass: D/MF; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

#6 Leon Koehl: MF; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#97 William Kulvik: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#8 Albi Ndrenika: MF; 5' 10"; Junior

#5 Alex Nitzl: MF/D; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#17 Kenny Quist-Therson: MF; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#3 Luca Costabile
: 5' 11"; Junior
: D

#4 Mack DeVries
: 6' 1"; Junior
: D

#14 Cameron Gerber
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: MF/F

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

#34 Dalton Hass
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior
: D/MF

#6 Leon Koehl
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MF

#97 William Kulvik
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#8 Albi Ndrenika
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MF

#5 Alex Nitzl
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: MF/D

#17 Kenny Quist-Therson
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MF