Winning a national championship in college soccer requires a talented team — explosive scorers, crafty midfielders and dominant goalkeepers.
But Maryland men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski said a strong backline might be the biggest factor. Cirovski believes the No. 4 Terps have a strong one this year.
Maryland allowed the second fewest goals per game in the Big Ten last season (.85), and lost just one starter from that group. With three senior starters and depth on the bench, the Terps’ backline, Cirovski said, could develop into one of the best lines in the country this season.
The veteran coach hopes to see progression from the unit when Maryland (0-0-1) plays its home opener Monday night against Hartford (0-1) at Ludwig Field.
“You need to have a very strong backline and be highly motivated,” Cirovski said. “We have both of these things. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had seniors on the backline.”
Cirovski compares the Terps defense this season to his group in 2013, when Maryland lost in the national championship. That defense featured former defender Mikey Ambrose, now playing for Orlando City SC, with depth from freshmen who are current Terp seniors.
Senior defenders Alex Crognale, Chris Odoi-Atsem and Suli Dainkeh played significant minutes as rookies in 2013. Cirovski thinks their experience will help the backline stay composed in crucial matches this year with the Terps touting eight true defenders, five of whom are underclassmen.
“It’s big having those guys who have played in big games, who have been here, know what Sasho expects from us,” Crognale said. “It helps the younger guys. Having the backbone of guys who have the experience is very helpful. We need guys to step up.”
Last season, Crognale and former defender Ivan Magalhaes, whom the Houston Dynamo selected with the 26th pick in the MLS SuperDraft in the offseason, solidified themselves as the starting center backs, so others had to play out of position. Odoi-Atsem, who played center back as an underclassman, moved to right wide back, while Dainkeh didn’t always play from his preferred left-center back position.
Now, each defender is playing in comfortable spots. Odoi-Atsem is more familiar with his right-wide back position after a year of experience, Diego Silva is playing left-wide back and Crognale and Dainkeh are starting as center backs.
“Alex and Suli have a very good partnership,” Cirovski said. “They played all spring together. They’re in their natural positions.”
The speed of Odoi-Atsem and Silva creates opportunities on offense, but Cirovski also incorporates his center backs in the attack through set plays.
This strategy was on display in the Terps’ 1-1 draw with UCLA on Friday. Off of a set piece, Crognale, who finished with four goals last season, positioned himself in the box to head the ball off of Bruins goalkeeper Juan Cervantes’ hands and into the back of the net for the Terp’s lone goal.
“There’s just so many possibilities of how we can score and who can create stuff,” forward Gordon Wild said. “Even if I’m down, there are three or four other guys open who can create stuff and score. That makes us really hard to predict and play against.”
Maryland’s backline was late on its shifting in the second minute against UCLA, giving up an early goal. But when Crognale scored about three minutes later, the Terps increased their defensive pressure and held on for the tie.
Cirovski expects his squad’s defensive rotation and pressure will improve as the season advances, and soon, Cirovski said, Maryland could feature one of the top backlines in the nation.
“We got the right guys in the right places,” Cirovski said. “It’s going to be a very strong backline.”
