#7 Maryland Men's Soccer Opens 2026 Season At Pitt

No. 7 Maryland (0-0-0) at Pitt (0-0-0)

August 20, 2026

Ambrose Urbanic Field

7:00 pm

ACCNX

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The Maryland men's soccer team opens its 2026 campaign against Pitt at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh, PA on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm and the match will air on ACCNX.

Coming off an undefeated regular season and Big Ten Regular Season Championship in 2025, the Terps will look to return to the NCAA Tournament after making it to the Quarterfinals a season ago. The Terps will host New Haven for their home opener next Monday evening in front of The Crew at Ludwig Field with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Where We've Been

The Maryland Terrapins enter the 2026 season looking to build on a historic 2025 campaign that saw the Terps rise to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches poll to close out the regular season.
Maryland finished its first unbeaten regular season since 2016, posting a 12-0-3 record while establishing itself as one of the nation's premier teams.
The Terps were nearly untouchable throughout the regular season, trailing for just 78 seconds across 15 matches in 2025.
Maryland's passionate fanbase, The Crew, helped the Terps lead the nation in attendance, with 43,065 fans packing Ludwig Field throughout the 2025 season.

Maryland Terrapins Men's Soccer vs Michigan State Spartans at DeMartin Soccer Complex in East Lansing, MI on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

Albi Ndrenika celebrating 2025 Big Ten Championship (Nov. 7, 2025)

Series History - Pitt

Thursday's matchup will be the 6th between the Terps and Panthers in each program's history.
Maryland holds a 5-0 record vs. Pitt with the last matchup coming last season. The Terps won that matchup 2-1 at Ludwig Field.
Head Coach Sasho Cirovski holds a 2-0 career record vs. Pitt.

Goalkeeper Laurin Mack (38)Maryland Terrapins Men's Soccer vs Pitt Panthers at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Friday, Sep. 19, 2025. Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

Laurin Mack taking on Pitt last season (Sept. 19, 2025)

BIG TEN Players to watch

Three Terps were named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list, the league announced Tuesday. The players are Leon Koehl, Laurin Mack and Albi Ndrenika.
A two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (2024, 2025), Koehl returns for his senior season after establishing himself as one of the conference's top midfielders.
Reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Laurin Mack anchors the Terps after an outstanding 2025 campaign. The Emmendingen, Germany, native recorded nine shutouts, tying for the Big Ten lead and ranking ninth nationally, while his 61 saves paced the conference.
Ndrenika earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors after emerging as one of the Terps' top playmakers in 2025. The Olney, Maryland, native led the team with eight assists while adding four goals and finishing third on the squad with 16 points.

All eyes on these three as the 2026 season approaches 🐢👀

📰 https://t.co/aRWajG5NkC pic.twitter.com/5XeRLGVKHu
— Maryland Men's Soccer 🐢 (@MarylandMSoccer) August 18, 2026

welcome the newcomers

The Terrapins welcome an elite group of newcomers to College Park, featuring a mix of experienced transfers and highly touted freshmen who will bolster the roster heading into the 2026 season.
Maryland added a pair of senior transfers from Campbell in Lilian Fichelle and Marco Wright. Fichelle will bolster the Terps' defensive line, while Wright brings versatility across the midfield and forward positions. Wright was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch List ahead of the 2026 season.
Dominic Ayella joins the Terps following two productive seasons at Lindsey Wilson College. Ayella totaled 27 goals and six assists for 60 points during his first two collegiate seasons, including five game-winning goals as a sophomore.
Zack Harris arrives in College Park for his senior season after spending three years at CSUN. A 2025 All-Big West Second Team selection, Harris started 16 of 17 matches last season, logging more than 1,200 minutes while recording three points on one goal and one assist.
Ljubomir Popovic rounds out Maryland's transfer class after two seasons at Tyler Junior College. Popovic started all 35 matches during his time at Tyler, recording two goals and three assists. A two-time NJCAA All-American and two-time United Soccer Coaches NJCAA All-American, Popovic helped Tyler capture conference championships in both 2024 and 2025, with the program reaching the No. 1 ranking in the nation during the 2025 season.
The roster also welcomes an impressive group of freshmen into the fold: Franklin Affanyi, Jason Atakora, Zach Cielewich, Said El Eyssami, Noah Gassan, Dennis Kalanzi, Rodrigo Neri and Maxwell Sekyi.

Forward Rodrigo Neri (9), Midfielder Zack Harris (16)Photos from Men's Soccer practice at Ludwig Field in College Park, MD on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

Rodrigo Neri and Zack Harris at the first practice of 2026 season (Aug. 4, 2026)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Franklin Affanyi

Jason Atakora

Dominic Ayella

Zach Cielewich

Said El Eyssami

Lilian Fichelle

Noah Gassan

Zack Harris

Dennis Kalanzi

Leon Koehl

Laurin Mack

Albi Ndrenika

Rodrigo Neri

Ljubomir Popovic

Maxwell Sekyi

Marco Wright

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