Stars of Terps, Hoyas first eyeing NCAA run In two distinct ways, the professional game will be equally influential in determining the future of two of the area’s most important college soccer players this season. But Maryland forward Casey Townsend and Georgetown midfielder Ian Christianson, both of whom were named Soccer America preseason All-Americans, remain primarily concerned with taking their respective teams further in the postseason than last year.
Townsend, who was tied as the Terrapins’ second-leading scorer last year (nine goals, five assists), turned down the chance at a guaranteed and salary cap-exempt contract from MLS when he decided to return to school for his fourth season.
| Up next |
| ACC/Big East Challenge |
| Virginia vs. West Virginia |
| Maryland vs. St. John’s |
| When » Friday, 5 p.m., 8 p.m. |
| Where » Maryland SoccerPlex, |
| Boyds |
| While the men’s season kicks off this weekend, the women are well under way. Led by goalkeeper and Bowie native Wendy Balogun, No. 4 Maryland (2-0) earned its highest preseason ranking and will host top-ranked Stanford (2-0) on Friday in College Park at 7 p.m. The Cardinal, last year’s national championship runners-up, are scheduled to visit U.S. national team pool member Ingrid Wells and Georgetown (2-0) on Sunday, but the game time and location could be affected by Hurricane Irene. |
There are no such assurances for draft-eligible seniors.
“My goal is to play well this year and sign a senior contract before the draft so I’d have another level of comfort,” Townsend said. “But that’s not a given. I need to have a good year in order for that to happen. You can go out early and get a guaranteed contract, or you can stay and fight for your spot.”
Townsend also has unfinished business after the Terps won an ACC title but had their national championship plans derailed by an 3-2 overtime loss to Michigan in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.
A run that deep would suit Christianson just fine after the Hoyas made their first NCAA appearance since 1997, dropping a second-round heartbreaker in penalty kicks 5-4 after a scoreless tie against heavy favorite North Carolina.
The confidence has carried over, and the Hoyas beat Maryland 1-0 during the preseason.
“We’re not coming in as the underdogs this year,” said Christianson, a junior who knows he could be in line this winter for the kind of offer Townsend attracted. However, his MLS rights are owned by the Chicago Fire, who would have the first chance to offer him a contract.
“I can’t say I haven’t thought about it,” Christianson said. “It’d be an honor and something very cool if that situation presented itself to me. But at this point, I’m more focused on the season and how we do this year.”
