When the Terrapins men’s soccer team honors its three seniors before tomorrow night’s matchup with Clemson, the focus won’t be on the three straight College Cup appearances the group has missed.

Instead, midfielder John Stertzer and defenders Taylor Kemp and London Woodberry will be recognized for their leadership and development. It’s been a three-year process that has culminated in the No. 1 Terps’ 14-0-1 start this season. Coach Sasho Cirovski’s squad could set the best start in program history while clinching the conference championship with a victory over the Tigers at Ludwig Field.

“It’s been everything,” defender Mikey Ambrose said. “They’ve led us all the way here to one of the best seasons we’ve ever had in Maryland history, and they’ve just been the best captains and the best upperclassmen we could have asked for. They’ve been like our older brothers in taking care of us this whole year.”

That leadership has perhaps been most critical to the Terps’ backline, where Kemp — when not sidelined by injury — and Woodberry have paired with Ambrose and defender Dakota Edwards to create a backline split between seniors and freshmen.

“I was really shocked when I first heard I was going to start, playing with them and what not,” said Edwards, who’s started 14 of the Terps’ 15 games this season. “It’s a hell of an experience. I love every minute of it.”

Ambrose, an outside back who is the lone Terp to start all 15 games this year, said earlier in the year that Kemp has provided the ultimate role model for him on and off the field. And though Kemp hasn’t played since Oct. 5 against Virginia due to injury, he’s still been a presence at most practices and games.

While the Highlands Ranch, Colo. native’s defending and playmaking have been missed — he had five assists in seven games — the defense, playing in front of goalkeepers Keith Cardona and Jordan Tatum, hasn’t suffered greatly. The Terps rank second in the ACC in goals against average (0.65) and have posted eight shutouts.

Edwards’ physical presence in the middle and Ambrose’s finesse and playmaking abilities on the outside have buoyed a backline that graduated top defender Alex Lee in the offseason. Edwards, often the last man back, frequently bodies out opposing forwards to allow Cardona or Tatum to make saves. Ambrose (one goal, three assists) possesses a left foot that’s become a weapon on set pieces and in transition.

“They’ve showed how their talent is needed on the field,” Stertzer said of Ambrose and Edwards. “Both have been very composed and mature throughout the whole year and really taken a big role on our defense and leadership also, on and off the field. Great props to both of them, they’ve both been great all throughout the year.”

Thanks to senior leadership, Cirovski knows other players on the Terps’ roster will be ready to step in once Kemp, Stertzer and Woodberry graduate. They may not all be starting this season, but many of them seem capable of someday reaching their elders’ caliber.

“I think with the depth that we have this year and having a lot of quality players having to play support roles this year, it’s great they can point to great players like John and London, who weren’t starters their first year and now have flourished to be among the best players in the nation,” Cirovski said. “I think that’s been a real positive piece that we can teach in the locker room where patience is necessary.”

And while Cirovski watches the ceremony honoring the three seniors tomorrow night, he’ll know their leadership has laid the groundwork for the development of his next group of leaders, one that likely includes Ambrose and Edwards.

“This is a big game for our program,” Cirovski said. “It’s senior night. We’ve got three outstanding seniors that we want to honor and send them with a happy face on their last regular season [home] game.”

TERPS NOTE: Cirovski said Kemp is “on the track to recovery” and he expects the senior to return in one to two weeks.

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