The beginning of Maryland men’s soccer season has produced a little bit of everything. The Terps have a dominant win over Detroit Mercy, a concerning loss to Georgetown and two ties to programs with varying levels of prestige in UMBC and Virginia.
On Friday night, Maryland will look to double its win total in what will be its fourth game in a six-game home stand against Brown.
The contest, which is the first ever regular season meeting between the programs, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on Big Ten Plus.
Brown Bears (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League)
As is often the case with Ivy League schools, Brown’s season had a much later start than Maryland and most other Division I programs. The Bears, who are led by third-year head coach Chase Wileman, have played just one regular season match. They defeated Lehigh, 2-1.
Brown is coming off a bizarre 2023 campaign in which it went undefeated in the Ivy League but won just two games, tying its other five matches. The Bears went to the Ivy League Tournament final, where their season ended in a 2-1 defeat to Yale.
Players to watch
Henrik Weiper, junior goalkeeper, No. 1 — In the offseason, Brown was tasked with replacing its second-team All-Ivy League goalkeeper Hudson Blatteis, who now dons a Maryland jersey. The Bears seem to have found a more-than-adequate successor in Weiper, who Blatteis previously took the starting job from. In their season-opening win over Lehigh, Weiper made six saves and allowed just one goal.
Jamin Gogo Peters, junior forward, No. 11 — Gogo Peters quickly made a name for himself after his arrival on Brown’s campus as a freshman. In 2022, he scored seven times and recorded an assist, earning himself a spot on College Soccer News’ All-Freshmen second team. Gogo Peters hit a sophomore slump last season, falling out of the starting lineup and failing to score all year. So far in 2024, he has regained his form, notching the game-winner off a header in Brown’s opening contest.
Jack Cloherty, senior midfielder, No. 8 — Cloherty is a staple of the Bears midfield, where he started almost every single game in 2023 en route to a place in the All-Ivy League second team.
Strength
Depth. Brown featured 20 players in its season opener, 18 of whom played more than 20 minutes. Cirovski played just 15 players in Maryland’s last win over Virginia and only one substitute, Max Riley, saw more than 20 minutes. The game should prove as a fitness test for Maryland’s players, as Brown is likely to have the fresher legs, particularly in the second half.
Weakness
Defense. Despite returning multiple veterans, the Bears back four allowed Lehigh to generate seven shots on target, calling on Weiper to save the day. Maryland has struggled to generate shots on goal, but could get opportunities Friday night.
Three things to watch
1. Goalie battle. Weiper won’t be the only goalie coming off an impressive performance Friday night. Maryland’s Laurin Mack made a pair of vital saves to preserve the Terps’ draw against Virginia.
“I think every game he’s gotten a little better,” Cirovski said of his starting goalkeeper. “He didn’t have an opportunity to play this summer so it takes a while to get into your game rhythm.”
2. Health of Albi Ndrenika and Bjarne Thiesen. When making assessments of Maryland’s season through four games, it is important to remember that it has been without two of its best players. Thiesen, the anchor of the team’s back line, has yet to see the field. However, Cirovski has alluded to a near-return. Ndrenika has already returned, but has not played more than 10 minutes in a single match.
3. Offensive tactics. Maryland has found success down the wings so far this year, with standouts Sadam Masereka and Luca Costabile taking players head-on and getting into dangerous positions. The Terps have had difficulty capitalizing once they reach these positions, though, firing crosses that don’t find a home. How the approach in the final third could change will be interesting to monitor.
