After allowing its second goal against Michigan on Sunday, the Maryland men’s soccer team raised its intensity. Coach Sasho Cirovski wanted his team to display that energy earlier in the game.
Despite Maryland defeating the Wolverines, 3-2, in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, Cirovski was upset with his team’s drive. After having a week off entering Sunday, the veteran coach expected more.
If the No. 1 Terps want to win their fifth consecutive conference tournament title next weekend, they know they can’t wait until their opponent scores to revamp their power.
“I was surprised by some of our lack of energy in the game, considering we had a tremendous week of practice,” Cirovski said. “That’s something that will be a point of correctness this week. I’ve talked all season about us having another level. We seem to only show it in moments of being tied or behind.”
Maryland struggled at the start of matches earlier this season, and the issue resurfaced at the end of the regular season, especially for midweek games in which the Terps played on little rest. Cirovski said facing every opponent’s best effort as the No. 1 team took a toll.
In some contests, Cirovski sat key players, such as forwards Gorgon Wild and Sebastian Elney and midfielders Jake Rozhansky and Eryk Williamson, for stretches because of their lack of energy.
In the middle of the season, however, the Terps recorded a five-game shutout streak. They played at a level they hope to reach again.
“Right now we’re a little bit reactive,” forward George Campbell said. “We need to get that proactive side back to us when we went on that shutout streak where we were making sure nothing was going through us. Right now we’re making it a little easy for teams.”
Despite the Terps holding a 2-1 halftime lead in their opening postseason match, Cirovski called for his players to improve after he was upset with their energy and passing in the first period. Instead, Maryland allowed a goal about five-and-a half minutes into the frame. The Terps focused on playing tougher defense against balls played into the box, yet Michigan forward Francis Atuahene scored off a cross.
Maryland then dominated possession, attempting eight shots the rest of the period, two of which smacked off the goalpost. In those instances, the Terps didn’t have players in the box to rebound the ball for a score.
That frustrated Cirovski, given the team practices following up shots.
“Every time a player shoots the ball, there should be one or two other players following,” Cirovski said. “That kind of reminded me of how the game went a lot of times. We would come up with a really good play, but then we wouldn’t have other people in the right places. Our guys thought it was going in both times and started to put their hands up to celebrate.”
Cirovski said Maryland needs to improve its mindset, and reigniting the team’s charge isn’t something the team can practice at this point in the season. Cirovski expects his top players to contribute more enthusiasm, which will filter through the team.
Campbell said previous Maryland teams have been known for their hard-working play, and this squad will look to return to that form moving forward, starting with its match against Michigan State on Friday in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
“I will challenge my team to make sure we bring that from the first second on the rest of the year,” Cirovski said. “We have no choice.”
