The biggest questions at the start of camp for the Terrapin men’s soccer team have centered around where the goals are going to come from. Jason Garey, superstar striker and all-time leader in goals for the Terps, is now shooting on goal for the Columbus Crew in the MLS, while rising Terp stud forward Robbie Rogers left the team last week to play professionally in Holland at SC Heerenveen.
The result of the two exhibition games for the Terps without Garey and Rogers was, well, zero goals.
Against Georgetown, the Terps tied 0-0 and against Indiana, they lost 1-0.
Sasho Cirvoski, coach of the No. 1-ranked Terps, alluded to growing pains, saying the lack of scoring is a concern. However, he said he is confident the Terps, who return only four of 11 starters, will find their touch.
“We have to figure out where all the goals are going to come from – that’s been slow in preseason due to some injuries to significant providers in the attack,” Cirovski said.
Cirovski said senior midfielder A.J. Godbolt, sophomore transfer Rich Costanzo and freshman forward Jason Herrick all have missed practice time due to “nagging minor injuries.” He said the team has overcome the minor aches and pains.
“We are a very talented team, we are a lot younger, we are going to have some growing pains early on, but I really like the make up of this team the pieces are really coming together,” Cirovski siad.
One of the names that came up in the scoring conversation was midfielder Stephen King. Last year King was second on the team in goals with 15, so naturally it would be expected for the midfielder to step and score as many, if not more goals this season.
But even he struck empty on his two shots on goal against Indiana.
“Everyone is going to have to step up and do a little bit more,” King said. “Obviously, losing Jason is a big loss, we are just going to have to have some of the younger guys step up. I will need to step up and put a few more in the net.”
Contact reporter Bryan Mann at bmanndbk@gmail.com.