The dual goalkeeper system Terrapin men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski used throughout last season is still in place this year after two games, despite the transfer of Thorne Holder.

During Sunday’s game against California, highly touted freshman Zac MacMath, who spent time with the U-17 U.S. National Team during the 2007 FIFA World Cup, got his first opportunity in net in the 1-0 loss. Sophomore Will Swaim started Friday night’s season opener at UCLA, played throughout and yielded one goal in a 2-1 Terps overtime win.

Holder, who split time with Swaim last season, transferred to Adelphi University in New York in the summer for more playing time, according to Cirovski, who will wait to make a permanent decision at goalie.

“It’s a very good battle. We won’t be able to settle on a clear starter until probably three, four or five games into the season,” Cirovski said before the season. “They both bring different strengths.”

While Swaim is credited for being a vocal organizer behind the defense, Cirovski said most of the freshmen, including MacMath, came in physically ready to contribute right away.

Last season, Swaim got the bulk of the minutes in goal, starting 12 games while Holder started nine. Cirovski said he would probably decide who will get the start in this weekend’s home-opener against Hartford after practice yesterday.

– Terps hit homestand

The Terps are preparing for a stretch of seven straight home games, starting with Hartford and Davidson on Friday and Sunday. But on the horizon are visits from the Terps’ two highest ranked conference rivals.

No. 2 Boston College and No. 1 Wake Forest will both visit College Park this month, which is part of the reason why Cirovski scheduled two road games against Pac-10 powers UCLA and Cal to start the season last weekend.

“As is a custom with our program, we like to know where we are right at the beginning of the year,” the 16-year Terp coach said. “Those games offer great opportunity for us to gauge where our strengths are [and] where our weaknesses are, and hopefully a better chance to address those immediately and get stronger every game.”

The Terps won’t leave Ludwig Field until next month, when they travel to Clemson.

– Wallace’s golden goal

Terps sophomore Rodney Wallace started Friday night’s game against No.19 UCLA on defense.

That didn’t stop him from scoring the game-winning goal in the seventh minute of overtime after being moved up to the attack.

“After we got that goal to go into overtime, I felt like we knew we were going to win,” Wallace said. “We had that fire, and we were working hard all summer, basically preparing for moments like this.”

Junior midfielder Drew Yates threaded a pass in between two UCLA defenders right to Wallace’s feet, who managed to stay onside and found himself one-on-one with Bruins goalkeeper Brian Perk.

Wallace faked inside before dribbling outside and tapping in the golden goal, leaving Perk on the ground behind him. The Terps stormed the field and some did a celebratory victory lap.

“It was a great moment,” Wallace said. “Yates made a great pass. It was a great ball right between the defenders, and luckily I just put it away.”

akrautdbk@gmail.com