Maryland men’s soccer defender Alex Crognale had a knack for scoring goals growing up.
Until he was 16 years old, Crognale played forward. That’s when his Columbus Crew SC Academy coach suggested he move to the backline, and Crognale thrived as a center back.
Yet Crognale has still utilized his skills as a striker with the Terps. Last season, Crognale scored four goals, and through six games, he’s already scored twice, the second most on the team.
Crognale flourished on both ends of the field Friday in the No. 4 Terps’ 1-1 draw with No. 3 Indiana, scoring the equalizing goal in the 87th minute. As Maryland enters the bulk of its Big Ten schedule, coach Sasho Cirovski plans to continue to use Crognale as an offensive threat.
“I put myself in the box any chance I get,” Crognale said. “I’m there for all of our set pieces, all our free kicks, everything like that. I’ve taken that responsibility on to be that guy when we’re in games and we’re struggling to find the back of the net through the run of play, and to get a goal on a set piece can be huge for the team. That’s something that I’ve been working on a lot.”
When Crognale, a Gahanna, Ohio, native tried out for Columbus Crew SC Academy U16 team, the coach, Billy Thompson, pulled him aside. Thompson told Crognale he could be a great center back. At first, Crognale didn’t believe it, but after trying the position, he fell in love with the role.
Crognale said Thompson and another Crew coach, Frank Speth, were instrumental in his transition to center back. Crognale also learned from Columbus Crew players, particularly center back Michael Parkhurst, who played for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Part of the process focused on how to integrate Crognale’s offensive skills into his new position.
While wide backs sprint up and down the sideline throughout matches, center backs remain closer to their team’s goal to stop the foe on a potential quick turn of possession.
Since Crognale can’t always be in the box in the run of play, Cirovski makes the senior a weapon on the Terps’ set pieces. His 6-foot-5, 201-pound frame poses a threat in the box and allows him to hold his ground and jump over defenders.
These skills were on display Friday. Off a free kick from goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier, defender Donovan Pines headed the ball into the box. Crognale positioned himself in front of Indiana defender Andrew Gutman and kicked the ball into the back of the net.
“It goes right back to his confidence,” Niedermeier said. “Whether the ball is 50 yards away or right at his feet, he knows what to do and he’s going to go out and do it. Having [Crognale] back there is a huge boost for us offensively and defensively. As you see in set pieces, he’s a monster. It’s nice to have. It relates to him having great feet.”
Cirovski said he’s challenged Crognale to improve his heading just as he did with defender Omar Gonzalez, who won a national championship with Maryland in 2008 and now plays for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The veteran coach said Crognale was one of the Terps’ hardest workers this summer, practicing scoring off set pieces. While Crognale scored one goal his first two seasons combined, he’s scored six times since.
His efforts paid off in Maryland’s 1-1 draw with UCLA on Aug. 26. Off a set piece, midfielder Cody Albrecht sent the ball into the box. The ball bounced off Bruins goalkeeper Juan Cervantes, and Crognale headed the loose ball into goal.
“He can play that ball as an outside back or he can play a 60-yard ball to our left back sprinting down the sideline,” Niedermeier said. “He keeps the team on their toes because they have no idea where he can put the ball. It’s really a boost when we can get different lines and challenge them.”
Crognale has started since his freshman year as a defensive anchor, and his scoring savvy has returned. Cirovski said that’ll be crucial as the Terps aim to contend for a national championship.
“He’s an important target in set pieces, and he’s very good in the air,” Cirovski said. “Not only on the defensive side, but on the attacking side. I expect him to score several more goals this year.”
