Men's Soccer Preview: No. 8 Maryland

Tuesday, October 25

College Park, MD

7:00 PM

University of Delaware

Maryland

Photo by: Jeff Fannon

10/24/2022 1:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware men's soccer team will play their final road game of the season when they travel to College Park, Md. on Tuesday to play Maryland. The Terrapins are currently ranked No. 8 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

What You Need to Know:

Delaware opened its season with a 2-0 win over Mount St. Mary's on Thursday, August 25, giving head coach Tommy McMenemy his first career victory. The Blue Hens also defeated George Washington on Sept. 13, Stony Brook on Oct. 15, with both wins featuring two goals by Sam Donnellan, and Monmouth on Oct. 22. Delaware played Saint Joseph's to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 6 and UNCW to a 2-2 draw on Sept. 24.
Donnellan was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Sept. 19, Sept. 26, and Oct. 17. He is the only CAA freshman to win multiple Rookie of the Week honors so far this season, and was the first Delaware player to receive back-to-back Rookie of the Weeks since Roberto Giménez in September 2011 and the first with three Rookie of the Week honors in a season since Giménez in 2011.
Vik was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24 after he shut out Monmouth. He became the first Delaware player to be named CAA Defensive Player of the Week since Renan Thomazo on March 29, 2021.
Donnellan scored eight goals in his first 14 career games, the fastest Blue Hen player to score eight career goals since former All-American Guillermo Delgado did so in his first five games. Donnellan's eight goals are the most by a Delaware freshman since Delgado had 15 in 2013, and the most by any Delaware player in a season since Delgado had 12 in 2017. He is tied for third in the CAA in goals scored, trailing Elliot Goldthorp (11) and Ryan Carmichael (nine), both of Hofstra, and tied with Chris Elliot of Charleston. Donnellan is also tied with Denis Krioutchenkov of Davidson, Ask Ekeland of Duquesne, Palmer Ault of Butler, Josemir Gomez of IUPUI, Matthew Bell of Marshall, and Elliot for the most goals among Division I freshmen this season.
Seidu Shamsudeen and Orri Thorhallsson have scored three goals for the Blue Hens, while Alonso Rodriguez has scored two and Justin Ruth and Brandon Sengphachanh have scored one goal. Thorhallsson (two), Florian Phlepsen (two), Aron Adalsteinsson (two), Liam Fuller, Jordan Miller, Alonso Rodriguez, Petros Fokas, James Watson, Charles Giordano, and Carlos Fernandez each have recorded an assist.
Adam Vik has recorded 56 saves through the first 15 career games of the season, tied for first in the CAA, including a career-high eight against Hofstra. He has recorded shutouts against Mount St. Mary's in his collegiate debut on August 25, against George Washington on Sept. 13, and against Monmouth on Oct. 24.
Delaware and Maryland have faced off seven times dating back to 1938. In their last three meetings dating back to 2015, all three matches came down to the final minute. Delaware defeated then No. 20 ranked Maryland, 2-1, in College Park on a goal by Thomas de Villardi in the 89th minute. On Oct. 25, 2016, No. 1 ranked Maryland defeated Delaware, 3-2, in double-overtime in a game that saw Delgado become the program's all-time leading goal scorer. A season ago, in Maryland's first trip to Newark since 1941, the Blue Hens took the No. 12 ranked Terrapins into overtime before a goal in the 98th minute sealed Maryland's victory.

The Opponent:

Maryland is 8-2-4 overall and 4-0-3 in the Big 10 so far on the season. Maryland has been ranked inside the top 25 all season, starting the year off ranked No. 20 and climbing as high as No. 7 in the polls.
Malcolm Johnston has five goals to lead the Terrapins, while Nick Richardson has six assists to lead the team. Niklas Neumann has 20 saves to lead the goalkeeping duo.
Head coach Sasho Cirovski is in his 30th season with Maryland and enters the game with a career record of 422-162-63 and 448-174-6 overall. He won a National Championship in 2005, 2008, and 2018 and has led Maryland to 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 21 consecutive appearances.

How to Follow: Live Stats I Live Video
Live stats and live video will be available for the match on bluehens.com.

Up Next: Delaware plays Northeastern on Saturday in the regular season finale, needing a win for a chance to play in the CAA Conference Tournament.

Follow Us on Social Media: For the latest on the Delaware men's soccer program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareMSOC and Instagram @DelawareMSOC and like "Delaware Men's Soccer" on Facebook.