Dakota Edwards
Two seasons ago, then-freshman defender Dakota Edwards was an instrumental part of a Terrapins men’s soccer team that qualified for the College Cup.
Edwards, once the No. 54 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com, started 23 games at center back in 2012, helping organize a star-studded backline that included defenders London Woodberry and Taylor Kemp, who have both gone on to play professional soccer.
But Edwards’ 2013 season was cut short by injury, and he played in just eight matches. Now, four games into his junior campaign, the once-promising prospect has yet to see the field.
“Dakota’s been in good form,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “It’s just tough to get him some time.”
Cirovski attributed Edwards’ lack of playing time to the team’s depth at the position. Defenders Chris Odoi-Atsem, Alex Crognale and Suli Dainkeh have also been in the rotation and performed well, and Cirovski hasn’t given any indication that he intends to alter his backline.
With the other three center backs emerging last year, Edwards seemingly got lost in the shuffle and hasn’t found his way back into the mix.
Cirovski said he doesn’t rank Edwards any lower than the others, though.
“I feel like we’ve got four starting center backs,” Cirovski said.
