No. 2 Maryland men’s soccer faced just one ranked opponent in its first nine games of the season, narrowly defeating then-No. 25 Georgetown to start the 2025 campaign. Despite being unbeaten, the Terps’
resume at that point was nothing special.
Things have quickly changed. With just two games left in the regular season, Maryland has the third-best RPI in the country, behind No. 5 Princeton and No. 3 Vermont. It’s done this in just three weeks.
On Friday, the Terps will have completed likely the hardest five-game stretch of any team in the nation. No. 14 Washington will be Maryland’s fourth ranked opponent in five games. It passed the first three tests with flying colors.
As part of the Terps’ four-game winning streak, they have accumulated three top-15 victories: then-No. 13 Michigan, then-No. 13 Rutgers and then-No. 14 Indiana. While the wins have been impressive, it’s the margin of victory that is most noteworthy. Maryland has beaten those three teams by a combined five goals, keeping quality Big Ten opposition at arms length.
But Washington will present a completely different challenge on Friday. The Huskies are in red-hot form, making the Terps’ final home regular season game all the more important. The match begins at 7:30 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
No. 14 Washington Huskies (10-3-2, 7-1-0 Big Ten)
2024 record: 8-6-7, 4-3-3 Big Ten
Head coach Jamie Clark has brought a winning formula everywhere he’s been. Clark led Harvard to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in his two seasons at the helm and took Creighton to the tournament in 2010. His tenure at Washington has been nothing different. In his 15th season leading the Huskies, he has totaled 11 postseason appearances, including a run to the championship game in 2021.
After a disappointing 2023 campaign which saw Washington miss the NCAA Tournament for just the third time under Clark, last season was a return to normalcy. The Huskies struggled in their first year in the Big Ten, winning just four of their 10 matches against conference opposition. Still, Washington reached the second round of the tournament before bowing out to No. 12 SMU.
While the Huskies didn’t get off to a good start this year — dropping their first two games and winning just one of their opening five matches — they quickly regrouped and have since found their groove. Washington is one of the hottest teams in the country, with just a loss to No. 8 Michigan as its lone blemish in the past 10 games.
Players to watch
Richie Aman, senior midfielder, No. 10 — Aman is one of the most creative players in the country on the ball, manufacturing quality looks with his elite passing. After dishing out nine assists in his first three seasons, the New Hampshire native has surpassed that total with 11 assists this year. His 0.73 assists per game are the second most in the nation.
Charlie Kosakoff, junior forward, No. 9 — Despite netting a pair of scores during Washington’s nonconference slate, Kosakoff’s production has skyrocketed against Big Ten opposition. Five of his seven goals scored this season have come during conference play, including a brace against Ohio State on Friday. Kosakoff has also contributed three assists.
Harrison Bertos, junior defender, No. 3 — Bertos is a vital component of the Huskies’ three-man backline, operating in the left center back role. After appearing in 11 games during his freshman campaign, he has totalled 35 starts over the last two years. Bertos was named the fourth-best defender in the country based on Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason rankings.
Strength
Goalscoring. Washington’s offense is one of the most potent units in the country, and it has the stats to back it up. Despite scoring just once in their first two games, the Huskies have netted at least five goals in three games this season, including their 5-0 rout of Ohio State on Friday. Washington has scored 38 goals in 15 matches — the second-most in the Big Ten.
Weakness
Aggressive nature. The Huskies don’t have many weaknesses, as evidenced by their six-game winning streak. But Washington’s physicality is something that has held the team back at times. The Huskies lead the Big Ten with 202 fouls and have accumulated 24 yellow cards this season. Those set-piece opportunities will give Maryland a chance to deliver some dangerous crosses.
Three things to watch
1. Frontrunning. A big reason behind the Terps’ success has been their ability to work ahead in games. While Maryland has conceded nine goals, they have only trailed for 78 seconds this season — all of which occurred in the Terps’ draw against Penn State. If Maryland can find the first goal on Friday, scoreboard and home-field pressure could propel it to victory.
2. Stephane Njike’s form. The Terps don’t have a clear top attacking option, but Njike is arguably that guy. The LIU transfer has amassed six goals and five assists this season operating on the left flank. Njike is in red-hot form as well, with three goals and three assists in the last four games.
3. Big Ten title implications. With just two conference games left in the season, Maryland and Washington have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack. The Huskies currently lead the Big Ten with 21 points, but the Terps are just one point behind. The winner of Friday’s contest will likely secure the Big Ten regular season title.
