A Visit To Maryland Terrapins Soccer

2005 National Championship Sign at University of Maryland’s Ludwig Field. (Author picture)

I had previously visited the men’s UMBC soccer program and their wonderfully atmospheric Retreiver Soccer Park. Now it was my turn to visit their big brother program, the University of Maryland.

Ludwig Field on College Park’s north campus is the home of the three-time national champion Maryland Terrapins. Those championships occurred in 1968, 2005 and 2008. They are also often considered champions in 1958, but it was before an official NCAA championship was developed.

Former Terrapin standouts Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi competed as members of the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. There are many other soccer alumni playing in various levels of professional soccer.

Former Milwaukee Wave player Sasho Cirovski is in his 21st year as the head coach of the program. He has led a dramatic improvement of the program. His fiery ways have had consequences as Cirovski has recently been suspended one game by the Big Ten for actions after the team’s loss to Northwestern on Sunday that were in violation of the conference’s sportsmanship policy. As part of the penalty, the school has also been fined $10,000, which the coach will incur the cost totally.

The 2014 season started with the Terrapins as preseason Big Ten Conference favorites. It has been a bit rougher than expected as they went into Sunday’s game against 3rd-ranked Penn State with a 4-5-2 record (1-2-1, in conference).

The game was not what anyone probably expected as the Terps routed Penn State 4-0. Mael Corboz had 2 goals with Alex Shinsky and Tsubasa Endoh each providing one. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen was amazing, not allowing anything that the highly-ranked Nittany Lions sent his way get past him.

7,000-seat Ludwig Field serves as the home of the men’s and women’s soccer team, as well as the university’s track and field programs. It is a nice soccer stadium, although the permanent north stands are too far from the action (due to the track placement) for much atmosphere from that side of the field. The student cheering section, known as The Crew, keeps the intensity going at all times.

If you are a fan of soccer, taking in a game at Ludwig Field is worth a visit.