Maryland men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski has repeatedly stressed that his squad wasn’t at full strength during the Terps’ first six matches of the season.
Maryland won two of its contests, settled for three draws and lost once during the opening nonconference schedule with a rotating starting 11 players. The Terps were without their starting center back Bjarne Thiesen from last season and lacked a key piece from their 2022 midfield.
But Monday’s 1-1 draw against San Diego State offered a glimpse of the Terps’ potentially strongest starting lineup.
The return of Thiesen and increased minutes for midfielder Albi Ndrenika gives Cirovski a growing pool of players to select from as Maryland begins Big Ten play on Friday, hoping to avoid a winless conference campaign for the second season running.
“It was a delight to get Bjarne back on the field for some minutes and continue to give Albi some more minutes,” Cirovski said. “We have a big match coming up on Friday. We’re trying to manage some minutes and rotate the squad.”
Thiesen’s addition will benefit the Terps on both ends of the pitch.
He led a defense that conceded less than one goal a game in 2021 and recorded six clean sheets in 2022 in three years at West Virginia. Thiesen appeared in 14 games and contributed to three shutouts last season for Maryland.
[Maryland men’s soccer unable to convert offensive chances in 1-1 draw with San Diego State]
The defender’s aerial ability could provide a different aspect to an offense that’s been starved of offensive output through six games.
Thiesen recorded two goals in his debut season for Maryland last year. The graduate student is the tallest player on the Terps’ roster — standing at 6-foot-5 — and used his height to head home a free kick for his first score last season.
Maryland also used Thiesen’s height on Monday, even though it didn’t end in a score. Graduate student forward Max Rogers swung in a free kick that Thiesen turned toward the goal with his head, but the San Diego State goalie pushed Thiesen’s effort away.
The center back’s height, coupled with Rogers’ delivery from set piece situations, gives Cirovski hope that the pair of veterans can link when the Terps win corner or free kicks in attacking positions.
“It’s just connecting that final pass,” Cirovski said. “We still haven’t scored too many goals off of crosses, and that’s something that we have to get better [at].”
Thiesen will re-join senior center back partner William Kulvik — who started 12 games alongside Thiesen in 2023 — as two of three Maryland players that were named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List for this season.
Ndrenika also boasts goal scoring capabilities from the midfield, something he’s already accomplished in just 71 minutes of game time.
[After blowing lead, Maryland men’s scores late free-kick goal to top Brown, 2-1]
The junior scored his first goal since November 2022 earlier this year. While he has the ability to break through opposing defenses with runs to the cage from the midfield, he can also win possessions and create opportunities for himself like he did on Monday.
Ndrenika tackled an Aztecs defender and took control of the ball, dribbling through the midfield and firing a low shot just wide of the post. He won a header inside the box minutes later that was tipped over the crossbar.
The midfielder’s “box-to-box” mentality will help provide stability through the center of the Terps’ formation. He can create chances for himself or forward teammates while providing defensive cover in certain situations.
“I like on and off the ball, making runs, coming back,” Ndrenika said. “So kind of being that Energizer Bunny in the midfield. I like making runs in behind, stretching back lines.”
Maryland is getting its key players back at an ideal time.
Both Thiesen and Ndrenika offer an attacking threat while providing help in defense. It’s something the Terps need to use over the next three weeks when they face Wisconsin and Northwestern, both top-15 conference opponents.
