From Ball Boy to Goalkeeper: Zach Cielewich’s Maryland Story
How one Maryland goalkeeper went from a ball boy on the sidelines of Ludwig Field to a part of the team.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
10/7/2026
He remembers hearing Ludwig Field chanting his name.
Well, not exactly.
One of Zach Cielewich’s earliest memories was attending a Maryland men’s soccer game and hearing the crowd erupt for then-goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
That moment stuck with him. And years later, the dream it sparked is playing out for Cielewich in College Park.
Ludwig Field practically raised Cielewich. He was a ball boy for countless matches and he and his family could often be found rooting on Maryland soccer. In fact, the first live sporting event he ever attended was a Maryland men’s soccer match against Duke.
I was five or six at the time. I remember Ludwig being packed. It really did feel like a professional game and atmosphere. There were like 8,000 fans there, and it was an absolutely bonkers game. That was my first memory of Maryland, and a game I’ll always remember.Zach Cielewich
He went from standing on the sidelines with a ball in his hands and stars in his eyes to a part of the 2026-27 roster. The freshman goalkeeper has his name on a Maryland jersey, and everything he wants is still in front of him.
“It was awesome," Cielewich said. “We got to walk the guys out and play at halftime. As a little kid, I looked up to those guys, and now I’m here, having the kids come up to us after the game, knowing us by name and asking for autographs. I think that’s awesome because we were once in their shoes. It’s always really been my dream school.”
A native of Severna Park, Maryland, Cielewich’s aspirations to play for Sasho Cirovski weren’t as far-fetched as one might imagine. In fact, his sports upbringing featured basketball, golf and lacrosse.
Basketball, he says, made him more aware of his surroundings in competition — boxing out in the paint helped develop the athleticism and awareness he uses when making saves. Golf sharpened his mental composure, while lacrosse kept the fun in sports — fitting for a Maryland native.
But the moments that really shaped him were on the sidelines and in the stands at Ludwig Field. The chants for Steffen unlocked a dream. Now, he’s living it.
It’s an awesome environment being at Ludwig. I remember like when Zack Steffen was in goal and everyone was chanting his name when he made a big save. Since we have the same name, that’s what inspired me to even become a goalie in the first place.Zach Cielewich
He turned his focus to soccer. Cielewich earned the starting spot for the D.C. United U18/19 Academy. He earned MLS NEXT Best XI honors during the 2024–25 season while playing for Baltimore Armour and was named an MLS NEXT All-Star in 2025.
“It took me a bit of time to get used to the speed of play,” Cielewich said. “Once I got there, I felt super comfortable. I worked my butt off, got the starting spot, and kept putting my head down and working.”
Schools started to take notice.
“It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I realized playing here could become a reality,” Cielewich said. “I had confidence in how I was playing, so I was emailing a bunch of schools. I remember Maryland reaching out, and that’s when it really became real. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m talking with Maryland. This is the first step toward getting recruited.’ So that was an awesome feeling.”
He built a connection with Cirovski and earned a spot on the team. He remembers the emotion of seeing his last name on a Maryland jersey for the first time. He’s taking every opportunity to learn from veteran goalkeeper Laurin Mack, who’s gone from an idol to a teammate.
“It’s so cool that Laurin has been here for the last three years,” Cielewich said. “Being able to watch him, to now be his teammate is awesome. His composure is something that’s really stuck out to me after seeing him in training. Before, I only saw him in games as a leader. It’s super cool to be in the same goalkeeper uniform as him.”
“Zach has been great to train with this season,” Mack said. “He works incredibly hard at every practice, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”
Every time Cielewich is on the sideline — now rooting for teammates instead of icons — he takes a moment to remember the kid he used to be, in the same building, but in a completely different role.
“Warming up and seeing The Crew come in is really electric,” Cielewich said. “It’s the best fan base in the country. I’ve talked to some older friends that have played against Maryland and heard their story about how annoying and frustrating it is to play here. That difference can make a really big impact.”
The future is bright. Maryland soccer’s always is. And for Cielewich, that future is one he’s been dreaming about since he was a kid in the stands at Ludwig Field. His story started a long time ago, but there are still plenty of chapters left to write under the Ludwig lights.
“It’s been an exciting road up into this,” Cielewich said. “It’s really just the beginning. There’s a lot more that I’m excited for in the future. I can’t wait to make an impact and make the most of my opportunities with The Crew behind my back. I remember being that kid watching games with my family, so I can’t wait to give back to them and my younger self.”
