Maryland men’s soccer began its first seven matches the same: in the 4-3-3 formation. The balanced shape is common because it allows teams to cover the pitch efficiently.
When the Terps announced Friday’s starting lineup against Northwestern, it seemed coach Sasho Cirovski was straying from his customary strategy. He doubled down instead.
While left winger Stephane Njike served a red card suspension from a penalty against Penn State, Cirovski started Joseph Umberto Picotto — giving the Terps a pair of forwards and four central midfielders.
Keeping his regular formation, Cirovski then shifted midfielder Albi Ndrenika to the left flank. The senior thrived there. He scored in the first half — which later became Maryland’s game-winner — and assisted in the second.
“[They’re] very different players,” Cirovski said of Ndrenika and Njike. “But we have the depth now to overcome … an injury or a suspension to a top player.”
Ndrenika and Njike’s differences stem from their role. Ndrenika “nearly [plays] as a 10,” teammate Leon Koehl said, creating chances with precise passes and the occasional long-range shot.
Njike is also creative, but instead uses his dribbling and speed to break past defensive lines as a prototypical winger.
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Ndrenika maintained his usual “create a goal” mentality on Friday, while emulating parts of Njike’s skillset. The senior said he tried to establish one-on-one opportunities on the left side, an approach that pitted him against Wildcats right back Bryant Mayer.
“Going against Bryant, another Maryland guy, it was kind of a mano a mano fight,” Ndrenika said.
Mayer won their clearest dribbling face-off in the first half. But in the 31st minute, Ndrenika made an Njike-esque run behind the Northwestern defender.
Left back Luca Costabile played a through ball down the sideline. Mayer slid to intercept the pass, but it skipped off his leg and directly into Ndrenika’s path instead.
Alone on the left wing, the usually assist-minded midfielder dribbled into the 18-yard box and curled a right-footed shot. The effort beat Northwestern’s goalkeeper as it nestled into the side netting.
Ndrenika displayed his more traditional skillset at points in the second half.
The senior lofted a 64th-minute cross to the back post for an assist on Sadam Masereka’s bicycle kick goal. He nearly scored from outside the box about 12 minutes later, but the Northwestern keeper made a leaping save. Maryland scored its fourth and final goal on the ensuing corner.
Ndrenika’s production in Friday’s unfamiliar role was even more impressive in the context of his Maryland career.
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He missed the first half of his freshman campaign while recovering from a lower back ailment, and was sidelined for the entirety of 2023 as he worked through a bacterial infection.
The Olney native returned for Maryland’s third match last year. With so much time away from the pitch, it took him time to get acclimated.
He finished the 2024 season with one goal and a career-high four assists, but admitted that a couple of injuries to Maryland’s other midfielders added some stress late in the year.
In the Terps’ reinforced 2025 midfield, Ndrenika has already matched last season’s assist total, while equaling his career-best two goals from 2022.
“I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever felt in my career,” Ndrenika said at the beginning of September.
With Njike’s suspension over, Ndrenika’s stay on the left wing is likely an isolated occurrence. But the senior showed he can produce in the role if need be — the type of versatility that may be imperative for the Terps as the campaign progresses.
