Maryland men’s soccer led Pittsburgh by a goal in Friday’s second half when forward Alex Hauskrecht raced past the Terps’ backline on a potential counterattack.
The junior had just crossed midfield but seemingly had a direct path to Maryland’s goal. Instead, defender Lasse Kelp sprinted, made up the distance and dispossessed Hauskrecht with an exemplary slide tackle.
Plays like those don’t show up in the box score, but they hold significant weight. Right back Jace Clark also made several crucial tackles earlier in the match. Coach Sasho Cirovski described his defenders’ exploits as “a testament to their heart.”
Maryland’s effort and finesse across the backline have limited opponents to four goals through the first six games, the team’s best defensive start since the 2018 national championship season.
“We’ve been inconsistent in that part of our game over the last several years,” Cirovski said. “I think that’s become a strength of our team right now.”
Maryland has held its opponents to 8.3 shots a game this season— tied for the third-best mark in the Big Ten.
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Slide tackles have enabled the Terps’ defensive potency. The technique carries inherent risk, because poorly-timed challenges often result in fouls. But Terp defenders have been immensely precise, with Clark providing an impeccable display in Friday’s first half.
The opening 10 minutes saw two separate matchups between Clark and midfielder Anders Bordoy on the left wing. Bordoy dribbled toward the byline in each instance as he attempted to outrun the Maryland right back. Clark stymied both threats with nearly identical right-footed slide tackles.
Dispossessing opponents in that fashion, without fouling, is an art.
Even when a defensive player wins the ball with their tackle, a heavy follow-through can topple the opponent and draw a subsequent foul. Maryland has rarely had that issue this season.
The Terps have committed a conference-low 64 fouls. Just two of those have resulted in spot kicks.
Both of Maryland’s penalty-causing gaffes saw freshman Farouk Cisse mistakenly trip opposing players from behind. Cirovski described the respective errors as “poor” and “careless,” though the occasional blunders have been understandable.
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Cirovski said Cisse wasn’t with the Terps during their preseason, and his roster addition was announced just two days before the season-opener. Thus, meaningful games have served as the freshman’s acclimation period.
“We’re slowly integrating him in a couple of different roles, trying to still find where he can help the team the most,” Cirovski said. “Every game I think he’s gotten a little better, to be honest. He’s starting to understand a little bit of the speed and physicality of the college game.”
A timely and efficient Maryland back line has helped goalkeeper Laurin Mack allow the lowest goals against average of any starting shot stopper in the Big Ten.
The 2024 conference All-Freshman Team selectee didn’t allow a goal from open play through the first five contests this season. Mack nearly extended that streak on Friday, but Panthers midfielder Jakob Löpping produced a late score with a seeing-eye strike that split Kelp and left back Luca Costabile on its way into the bottom corner of the goal.
“That’s the first goal [we’ve conceded] from the flow of play, and it was in the 88th minute of a 2-0 game,” Cirovski said. “I’m still not happy about it, but at the same time, it will be a good learning moment for us.”
