As Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski will tell you at any opportunity, the college soccer season forces teams to be prepared to make quick turnarounds.
That is exactly what his team will have to do, as just four days after it defeated Northwestern on the road, Maryland will welcome Penn State to College Park for another conference matchup.
The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network.
Penn State (4-5-0, Big Ten 1-2-0)
The Nittany Lions come to College Park riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak. It was a stretch they desperately needed after a 2-5 start to their season and a rough nonconference slate, in which they played some of the nation’s best teams.
Led by seventh-year head coach Jeff Cook, the Nittany Lions will hope to extend their winning streak to three and beat Maryland for the second year in a row.
Players to Watch
Matthew Henderson, junior defender, No. 3 — Henderson is a wingback, but he has managed to be the team’s leader in goals (3) and points (8). Henderson has miraculously scored not one, but two olimpico goals, a goal scored directly off a corner. Maryland will have to be sharp defensively on set pieces with him standing over the ball.
Christian Dionne, junior forward No. 18 — Dionne earned a starting spot early in the season with back-to-back goals against St. Bonaventure and Pittsburgh. He continues to be Penn State’s most dangerous man going forward.
Caden Grabfelder, sophomore midfielder, No. 11 — Grabfelder impressed during his freshman season in State College, Pennsylvania, earning a Big Ten All-Freshman team nod. He has continued this play with an impressive start to the season in the heart of Penn State’s midfield. Grabfelder has notched two goals and an assist thus far.
Strength
Battle-tested. The Nittany Lions record certainly doesn’t jump off the page as one of the more impressive in the Big Ten, but when you dig a little deeper, all four of the opponents they lost to are either ranked in the current United Soccer Coach’s poll or received votes. They only lost to No. 1 Pittsburgh 2-1. It will be hard for Maryland to offer a threat Penn State hasn’t seen before.
Weakness
Defense. Penn State has allowed 18 goals to this point. It has shown an ability to give up goals in bunches, allowing three or more goals in three different matches this season.
Three things to watch
1. Can Maryland stay perfect? The Terps are off to a dream start in conference play, winning all three of their Big Ten games so far. A fourth straight victory over Penn State will start to separate them as one of the best teams in the conference.
2. How will the Terps fare back at Ludwig? The Terps are returning home from a successful two-game road trip to play back in front of their home fans for the first time in more than two and a half weeks. Maryland is 3-2-1 in home games this season.
3. Physicality. Fans can be sure to expect a dog fight in a Maryland and Penn State matchup. The Terps have handled the physicality of conference play well to this point, and are coming off a scrappy game against Northwestern on the road.
