The Terps prepare for their toughest test of 2024.
Maryland men’s soccer will begin what many consider to be a second season on Friday night, welcoming No. 8 Wisconsin to Ludwig Field for its first conference game of the year.
Head coach Sasho Cirovski’s Terps have stayed afloat through the first month of the season with a 2-1-3 record. Now, they have an opportunity to make a strong statement against one of the top teams in the country.
“I think they’re rightfully ranked as a top-10 team in the country,” Cirovski said of the Badgers. “They’ll be a big challenge for us and we know we didn’t do well against them last year at their place, so we will be highly motivated for the matchup.”
The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday night and be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
No. 8 Wisconsin (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
2023 record: 6-5-6 (2-2-4 Big Ten)
Led by second-year head coach Neil Jones, the Badgers are undefeated to begin the season, with its most memorable win coming over then-No. 16 Kentucky. Their start comes contrasts vastly to last year’s, when Wisconsin started 3-2-1.
Players to watch
Dean Boltz, freshman forward, No. 13 — Through five games this season, Boltz is building a strong case as the best freshman in the country. He has tallied seven goals and three assists, highlighted by a hat trick in his first-ever collegiate game. On paper, he is the most threatening forward Maryland has come across to this point.
Roberto Burlew, graduate defender, No. 6 — Burlew has been one of the Badgers’ leaders in minutes played in 2024, helping guide what has been one of the best defenses in the country. He recorded an assist in an early-season defeat of Drexel.
Trip Fleming, sophomore midfielder, No. 8 — Fleming is second to Boltz in both goals and assists, scoring four times and assisting on two more. Those marks would be good for the team lead in either category on Maryland. Fleming will be someone Maryland’s midfielders need to key in on in the middle of the pitch.
Strength
Defense. Wisconsin’s defense has been nothing short of stellar in 2024. Through five games, it has conceded only twice, including allowing just a single goal across two games against strong opponents in Marquette and Kentucky. This creates a bad matchup for the Terps, who have struggled to generate goals this season.
Weakness
Lack of road tests. One really has to grasp at straws to find a Badgers weakness. They have the second-best goal differential in the country and haven’t lost or tied a game. However, they have only played one game on the road, and Ludwig Field on a Friday night will be the most raucous away crowd they have played against. The Terps will hope a strong home crowd can fuel them to an upset.
Three things to watch
1. Who will replace Van Heukelum? Cirovski didn’t make any comment on forward Luke Van Heukelum’s status after his injury on Monday night, but it would be a shock if he returned to the starting lineup on Friday after leaving the game against San Diego State in an ambulance. Whether Cirovski will change formations entirely or replace Van Heukelum with a substitute like Aidan Sheppela or Mikkel Lejbowicz remains to be seen.
2. Physicality of conference play. Big Ten soccer is known for being chippy and physical. Maryland got a taste of this in its draw against the Aztecs on Monday. Overall, the Terps seemed to handle it well, although they lost an important player to injury. Staying healthy will be important for the Terps, who are already dealing with injuries.
3. Are Ndrenika and Thiesen ready? Albi Ndrenika and Bjarne Thiesen are two of the Terps’ most important players, and both have been slowly working their way back from injuries. If Cirovski feels confident enough to start both of them and give them full workloads, it will significantly boost Maryland’s chances against the Badgers.