Could it be possible Maryland men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski has recruited too well? With only three seniors on the roster and underclassmen accounting for 16 of the 23 goals scored this season by the defending NCAA champions, are there enough spots to keep attracting the nation’s top high school prospects?
“We’re always going to have spots,” said Cirovski. “We’re going to continue to work hard in recruiting and try to attract kids here. Which young man wouldn’t want to come here?”
“Here” is Ludwig Field, which hosted a record crowd of 6,489 last weekend as the third-ranked Terps topped No. 6 Duke, 1-0. Not only does No. 3 Maryland (10-1-1, 3-1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have arguably the best college soccer venue in the country, it also has one of the nation’s most productive freshmen classes.
Forward Jason Herrick (5 goals, 2 assists) and midfielder Jeremy Hall (4 goals, 2 assists are two of the team’s top four leading scorers. Herrick, along with Omar Gonzalez, has started every game this season.
“It doesn’t really matter about the class, it’s just all about the player. If you’re a player, you’ll come out and show people what you can do. That’s what we’ve been doing,” said Gonzalez. He’s one of Cirovski’s projects – at 6-foot-5 he’s a monster in soccer, but he’s more than just an anchor in defense, where he’s been employed this season.
“He’s a very good passer of ball. We haven’t gotten him involved as much in the attack as I think he’s capable of, not only on set pieces but even in the flow of play,” said Cirovksi.
Gonzalez and Hall both graduated from the U.S.under-17 program in Bradenton, Fla. Hall’s arrival in College Park meant a chance to play again with freshman Drew Yates (4 assists), who was in Bradenton as a junior before starring last fall at DeMatha. The two are now roommates.
“I was pretty close with [Hall] and I liked him a lot,” said Yates. “He was cool, so I was really happy when I found out that he was committed to Maryland.”
The returners have also done well. Local product and fifth-year senior David Glaudemans (Bethesda/Whitman) is a team captain, and sophomore Graham Zusi (6 goals, 3 assists) and junior Maurice Edu (scored the game-winning goal in each of the past two games) have picked up Soccer America’s last two player of the week awards.
One would hardly notice that Robbie Rogers, who had seven goals and five assists last year as a freshman and was arguably the most dangerous attacking player in the country, is gone. Rogers signed with Dutch first division club SC Heerenveen just weeks prior to the season. But the Terps have hardly missed a beat.
“Our freshmen group, I’ve been extremely happy with them,” said Cirovski.
