Maryland men’s soccer midfielder William James Herve earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors Tuesday after he scored both goals in the Terps’ 2-1 overtime victory against Northwestern.
The freshman played 78 minutes of his second college start Friday night against the Wildcats. Herve scored an equalizer in the 84th minute and the game-winner in the 95th to secure Maryland’s comeback win on the road to start conference play.
Behind Herve’s spark, Maryland now has three goals in its last two games. The Terps didn’t score in their first four games of the season, but finally broke through last week against West Virginia in a 1-0 win.
[Read more: His mom flew over 4,000 miles. Then, William James Herve scored twice for Maryland soccer.]
Four days later, with Maryland trailing 1-0, Herve struck twice in 11 minutes for a second straight victory.
The Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, native didn’t start in Maryland’s first four games. But he has seen an increased role while forward Sebastian Elney works his way back to full health from an ankle injury and illnesses prevented three Terps from playing against Northwestern.
Herve is the first Maryland freshman to score multiple goals in a game since Eryk Williamson and Elney, who each accomplished the feat during the 2015 season.
Maryland (2-2-2) still ranks 191st of 205 teams in scoring offense because of the goalless drought to start the season. Herve’s contributions Friday could signal a shift in fortunes in the future.
The Terps can continue their winning streak against Wisconsin on Friday, looking to avenge their 2017 Big Ten tournament loss to the Badgers.
