The Maryland men’s soccer team was selected to win the Big Ten in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll released Wednesday. Coach Sasho Cirovski chose defenders Alex Crognale and Chris Odoi-Atsem and midfielder Eryk Williamson as the Terps’ Big Ten Players to Watch.
The Terps are ranked No. 4 in the country in NSCAA’s preseason rankings.
Maryland tied for third in the Big Ten last season before winning the conference tournament. The Terps fell to Clemson in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Indiana and Ohio State, the teams who finished ahead of Maryland in the Big Ten last season, are projected to finish second and third this year, respectively.
Cirovski’s squad lost just two starters from last season, and Williamson and forward Sebastian Elney, who combined for 33 points last year, headline the Terps attack. Crognale and Odoi-Atsem, meanwhile, are senior starters on a backline that allowed the second fewest goals per game in the Big Ten last season (.85).
Maryland begins its season at No. 16 UCLA on Aug. 26.
