Chris Odoi-Atsem and Suli Dainkeh have been anchoring the Maryland men’s soccer team’s backline for the past four years, helping the Terps to pose one of the best defenses in their conference each season.
But in No. 1 Maryland’s match against Michigan on Sunday, Odoi-Atsem and Dainkeh’s largest contributions came on offense. Coach Sasho Cirovski encouraged the pair to move into the attack. As a result, the seniors each scored one of the biggest goals of the Terps’ season.
Odoi-Atsem scored the game-tying goal in the 89th minute. Then in the 109th minute, Dainkeh netted the game-winner to seal Maryland’s first undefeated regular season in 48 years.
“Chris and Suli found ways to get a goal; it’s quite incredible,” Cirovski said. “They’re such shutdown defenders for us. They weren’t happy about the fact that we were down 2-0 at halftime. I could see it in their eyes that they were determined.”
As freshmen, Odoi-Atsem and Dainkeh started as center backs in the Terps’ run to national runner-up. Odoi-Atsem moved to right back his junior year, where he’s used his speed to push the ball into the attacking third. The Mitchellville native has five assists via crosses into the box.
Meanwhile, Dainkeh has switched between playing center back and outside back while battling injuries the past two seasons. With defenders Alex Crognale and Ivan Magalhaes solidifying the starting center back positions last year, Dainkeh mainly played left back. This season, he’s primarily played center back, but while left back Diego Silva recovers from an injury, Dainkeh has also filled in for him.
Dainkeh started at center back Sunday, but after Maryland surrendered two goals in the opening 19 minutes, Cirovski replaced left back Andrew Samuels with defender Donovan Pines. Pines took over at center while Dainkeh moved to left. Dainkeh said he’s played both positions since he was 10 years old, so he fits wherever Cirovski needs him.
At halftime, Cirovski encouraged Odoi-Atsem and Dainkeh to attack more. So with 61 seconds remaining in regulation and the Terps trailing, 2-1, forward Gordon Wild passed to Odoi-Atsem on the left goalpost. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound defender dove feet first to kick the ball into goal before hugging Wild in celebration.
Odoi-Atsem knew Wild likes to pass to the near post when he has the ball out wide, and the sophomore had tried earlier, though players weren’t in position. With Maryland’s undefeated streak on the line, Odoi-Atsem finished the pass for his first goal of the season.
“When I scored that goal, myself and [Crognale], two seniors, we’re up there just trying to get in the box and battle for a goal,” Odoi-Atsem said. “We just wanted to step up and lead the way for the rest of the team and the young guys. I knew we were going to go on and win the game.”
In the 109th minute, three Michigan players dove onto the ground to block Wild’s shot. The ball rolled to Dainkeh on the left side of the goal, and he scored his first career goal to lift the Terps to their 12th consecutive victory. As the Reston, Virginia, native ran around the field in Ann Arbor, Michigan, his teammates chased him while some Wolverines players pulled their jerseys over their heads in disappointment.
Odoi-Atsem met Dainkeh with a big hug on the field about a minute later. They weren’t used to being in the spotlight, but the defenders shared it Sunday.
“I remember telling Chris last week, ‘Man, I feel like I’m going to get one,'” Dainkeh said. “I knew it was coming, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.”
