After losing more than half of his squad, Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski had a busy offseason. While the Terps’ new additions largely went under the radar, fans got a glimpse of what the 2026 roster will look like on Friday.
Cirovski announced the signing of 13 players to fill several key departures from the starting lineup. Maryland’s incoming group features five transfers and eight freshmen.
Forward Marco Wright and defender Lilian Fichelle both arrive in College Park after successful
seasons at Campbell. Wright bagged five goals and four assists to help pace the nation’s 19th-highest scoring offense. Fichelle anchored the heart of the defense, logging a team-leading 1,763 minutes in 20 starts. Both players were selected to the All-CAA first team.
Though midfielder Zack Harris totaled a goal and an assist last season, the All-Big West second-teamer was a steadying presence in the middle of the pitch for Cal State Northridge. Harris will provide depth in Maryland’s talented midfield unit.
Forward Dominic Ayella notched 18 goals and five assists at Lindsey Wilson College, where former Terp Sadam Masereka played before transferring to Maryland. Two-time NJCAA All-American defender Ljubomir Popovic registered 35 starts across his two seasons at Tyler Junior College.
Maryland’s freshman class brings plenty of experience to aid a program looking to build on a deep postseason run.
Franklin Affanyi, a Montverde Academy product, was one of the top recruits in the 2026 class and could break into the Terps’ starting backline. Homegrown talent Zach Cielewich played for DC United’s academy team and appears likely to serve as Laurin Mack’s backup goalkeeper.
Forwards Said El Eyssami, Rodrigo Neri and Antoine Coupland are high-level goalscorers capable of an immediate impact. El Eyssami contributed 12 goals in eight games at Northwood Prep. Neri scored nine goals for Atlantic United 2 after developing in Atletico Madrid’s academy and later spending time with the U.S. youth national team. Coupland played in 58 career matches with Vancouver Whitecaps 2.
Midfielders Jason Atakora and Maxwell Sekyi were teammates at Exulted FC in Ghana’s second division. Forward Dennis Kalanzi comes to Maryland after playing in the Ugandan Premier League, leading the team in assists last season.
While Maryland’s roster isn’t complete, the current recruiting class will help replenish the absences in the rotation.
“This is one of the most diverse and talented recruiting classes we have assembled,” Cirovski said. “We believe the entire group will accelerate our growth, elevate the standard in our locker room and push our returners to another level.”
In other news
Former Maryland women’s lacrosse defender Abby Bosco was selected to the WLL All-Star game.
Four-star class of 2027 guard Oneal Delancy is visiting Maryland men’s basketball.
Maryland men’s basketball extended an offer to class of 2028 four-star small forward Isaiah Carter.
Erika Pritchard, a 2018 All-American honorable mention with Maryland volleyball, is joining League One Volleyball.
