Defensive midfielder Andrew Samuels wins the ball from an opponent in the Terps’ 2-0 win over Villanova at Ludwig Field on Oct. 5, 2015.
For the first four games of the Terrapins men’s soccer team’s season, midfielders Mael Corboz and freshman Andrew Samuels were playing outside their natural position.
Corboz, who led the team in scoring last season from the attacking mid spot, replaced former midfielder Dan Metzger as the unit’s defensive specialist. And when Samuels would see time as a substitute early on, he’d play center back or outside back, despite often playing in front of the backline growing up.
Both of their roles changed Sept. 11 against Michigan, however, as coach Sasho Cirovski awarded Samuels with his first career start at defensive midfielder. Samuels’ emergence created a new-look lineup, which has remained the same for the past six matches and allowed Cirovski to put Corboz back into the role he thrived in a year ago.
“The kid doesn’t make mistakes, doesn’t lose the ball, and he wins a lot of the balls when their offensive midfielders get the ball,” Corboz said of Samuels. “I think he’s exceeded all expectations, to be honest. He’s a great kid, and he’s a great player.”
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The Terps’ lineup for their season opener against Notre Dame on Aug. 28 featured four freshmen, but Samuels began the year as a reserve. He averaged 14.33 minutes per game over the team’s first three contests while adjusting to the college game.
“The pace is a lot faster; the games are a lot more intense, a lot more physical,” Samuels said. “Everybody on the field is a lot better, and everybody on the field knows what they’re doing, and you don’t have weak spots really on either team on the field. It’s just really tactical and mental moments that win you games.”
Meanwhile, Corboz settled into a more defensive role, and midfielder Amar Sejdic shouldered the offensive load early in the season.
Each player rifled three shots against the Fighting Irish, but Sejdic scored twice in the Terps’ 4-0 win against St. John’s. And while Corboz netted the opening goal against then-No. 1 UCLA, it came on a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Plus, Sejdic still attempted two more shots in the game.
Corboz and Samuels played the same positions in a 3-2 loss to Akron on Sept. 7, but Corboz’s lack of offensive output provoked Cirovski to make an adjustment four days later against the Wolverines.
“Mael was our leading goal-scorer from last year,” Cirovski said. “With the emergence of Andrew, we wanted to get Mael a little closer to the goal and a little more free in his ability to attack.”
Both players have been on the field nearly every minute for the past seven games, and Samuels said his chemistry with Corboz has continued to improve. Samuels also understands the importance of putting the senior captain in positions to score.
“He’s the best attacking mid in the country,” Samuels said. “He showing that he’s one of the best out there, and I think having him in front of me makes it a lot easier for me.”
After two seasons at Rutgers, Corboz made a significant offensive impact in his first year in College Park. He tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 goals and earned Big Ten tournament MVP honors after scoring two goals in three games.
His responsibilities shifted to start the season, but Samuels’ development has allowed him to shift back into a more familiar role.
Samuels is “someone that was a little farther ahead than we thought he would be at this stage and was ready to play,” Cirovski said. “So we threw him in there.”
