When Maryland men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski took the head coaching job at Maryland in 1993, there was hardly any yelling, taunting or interaction between the crowd and players.
Ten years later, with the hope of fostering a better atmosphere, Cirovski influenced the athletic department to add stands behind both goalposts. Those stands became The Crew’s stomping grounds.
Since then, Cirovski said the student section has become a part of the Terps’ identity, taunting opposing teams’ players with creative chants and bursting with noise whenever Maryland scores.
In the No. 7 Terps’ (1-0-1) first Friday home match at Ludwig Field against No. 24 Georgetown (0-2), Cirovski said he expects The Crew to be even crazier than usual.
“It’s a special group,” Cirovski said. “They’re a big factor in the game. We’ve done a great job of providing a stage for our players that they love. Seeing their love and commitment and passion is incredible. I’ve missed them.”
The Crew began when students Mike Mastrantuono, Adam Lauer and one of their roommates attended Maryland’s home-opener against UCLA in 2003 with more than 6,000 other fans. The trio mocked the Bruins’ goalkeeper throughout the contest, and soon other students joined in.
The Crew was composed of 30 members at first, Mastrantuono said, and it did not become an official group until 2004. Its numbers have since reached the thousands.
And after Mastrantuono’s interview with The Diamondback, the organization had a name.
“Before every game I shout at the goalie, ‘My name is Mike, and this is my crew, get to know us,'” Mastrantuono recalls telling the reporter. “That’s how it came about. We created the identity of The Crew, which became the identity of the Maryland men’s soccer program. I feel like I have my special piece in there, and so do many other people.”
Cirovski began speaking with Mastrantuono and other members of The Crew so he could schedule games based on students’ availability. The veteran coach embraced the group as a unique aspect of Maryland.
Mastrantuono said just as the players bond from playing and practicing with each other each day, members of The Crew develop strong relationships by sharing an interest in cheering on the Terps. The group’s members tailgate before every home match and even travel to some away games.
The majority of The Crew’s members sit behind the opposing teams’ goal the entire contest to mock their primary target: the foe’s goalkeeper. So at halftime, the students switch to the bleachers on the opposite side of the field.
“You can’t really describe it,” forward George Campbell said. “We’re warming up and we got 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 people here chanting our names and supporting us. We score a goal and it’s unbelievable. It erupts.”
Cirovski hopes The Crew will replicate its enthusiasm from the Terps’ home-opener last year against then-No. 1 UCLA. After forward Sebastian Elney scored the game-winning goal, he and other players rushed to the students standing behind the goal and jumped onto the fence separating the field and stands. While jumping up and down and trying to reach out to the players, the students pushed down the fence.
Maryland saw its first glimpse of The Crew this season in its home-opener against Hartford on Monday. Forward Gordon Wild, who was playing his first match at Ludwig Field after transferring from South Carolina Upstate, said he’d never experienced a crowd like The Crew.
“I got goosebumps when I scored my first goal,” Wild said. “The Crew [is] special. Just everything they do, it’s amazing and unique. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Terps will play for the title of the D.C. area’s best team Friday when they battle Georgetown. The Crew has made a difference in these types of games, Cirovski said, and he doesn’t expect Friday to be any different.
“Every year it gets a little bigger and better,” Cirovski said. “They’re very passionate and very loyal. Friday will be magic. I can’t wait to have this place jumping.”
