Off the field, the freshmen on the Terrapin men’s soccer team are treated like, well, freshmen.
“On road trips we have to wait to get on the bus,” freshman midfielder Drew Yates said. “It’s just, like, little things – like we have to wait for them to order [food] before we can order.”
Despite having to wait their turn as they play the role of freshmen off the field, on the field the newcomers have had extensive roles so far this season.
“Off the field, they make it known that I’m a freshman,” defender Omar Gonzalez said. “On the field, I’m a player, and that’s the way I see it.”
And the good news for the Terps’ freshmen on the field is there hasn’t been a severe learning curve.
The young players have helped spark the hope of a repeat of last year’s national championship even though the Terps lost seven of their starters in the offseason.
“Super freshmen,” senior midfielder A.J. Godbolt said. “They’ve played a huge part on the team, but that’s what we need them to do.”
In Friday’s game against North Carolina, the Terps used three starting freshmen: Gonzalez, Jeremy Hall and Jason Herrick. They subbed in two others, Yates and Justin Kendro.
This season Gonzalez, who is most noted for his 6-foot-5 stature, has played consistently on defense with a strong leg and good presence in the air. Hall has shown his excitement and his explosiveness by creating several chances on offense, and Herrick is a forward who has provided a finishing touch with five goals.
On Friday night, the No. 2-ranked Terps (10-1-1, 3-1-1 ACC) used their young crop of talent even more during the overtime period when Kendro replaced Gonzalez, who was hampered during the game with a leg injury. Yates played more than 75 minutes, continuing the solid minutes he has given the Terps in the last few weeks on the wing.
When asked how they have developed so quickly, most of the freshmen said they have a history of playing in big games throughout high school and on club teams.
“Some of us come from a background where we were on the national team or we were playing good competition,” Gonzalez said. “So I think that’s partly the reason why we were able to step up and do so well from the beginning.”
But more than anything, a big reason the freshmen have made an impact is because they were given a chance, and if they hadn’t play well, the Terps may have been in for a long season.
“I’ve told them all along to be prepared and ready for their opportunities because they don’t know when it’s gonna come,” coach Sasho Cirovksi said. “We certainly have confidence in all of the guys to play them.”
Confidence to play them and not make them wait has worked on the field, even if that does mean the young Terps have to wait longer to get on the bus.
Contact reporter Bryan Mann at bmanndbk@gmail.com.
