While Thursday’s contest against No. 6 Wake Forest will not show up in the record book as a win for Maryland men’s soccer, the Terps assembled one of their most complete halves of play in recent memory.
Showcasing a much-improved defense from last season and a sensational finish from forward Sadam Masereka in the eighth minute, Maryland took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break. Unfortunately, Hurricane Erin brought severe storms and heavy rainfall over Winston-Salem, forcing both sides to shelter in their
locker rooms until the game was eventually cancelled.
The Terps will be hoping those promising signs translate over to their now-season opener against No. 25 Georgetown on Monday. Maryland has already proven it can hang with some of the best teams in the country for 45 minutes. Now, it needs to deliver a signature ranked victory.
Monday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
No. 25 Georgetown Hoyas (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big East)
2024 record: 11-5-5, 5-2-1 Big East
It took head coach Brian Wiese five years to make his first NCAA Tournament appearance after taking the helm at Georgetown, but since then, he’s been one of the top coaches in the country. Wiese has rattled off eight straight tournament berths and 12 in 13 years, boosting the Hoyas onto the national scene as a premier program.
While Georgetown brought home its sixth Big East Tournament championship this past season, the ending wasn’t up to par with the high standards Wiese has established. After earning the No. 4-seed in the tournament, the Hoyas crashed out in the second round against NC State, 2-0.
However, Georgetown has gotten off to a slow start this season. Despite being ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, the Hoyas fell to High Point, 2-1, in their season opener.
Players to know
Matthew Van Horn, junior midfielder, No. 8 — Van Horn had a sophomore campaign to remember after barely touching the field his first year. The Alaska native posted a team-high six goals and contributed three assists, earning him an All-Big East first team selection and a third round pick by the Colorado Rapids in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Tenzing Manske, senior goalkeeper, No. 1 — An All-Big East third team selection this past year, Manske made some spectacular saves in goal to justify his full-time starting role. He posted an impressive .774 save percentage — good for 33rd in the nation. While Manske only had two saves in the first game, his track record through 23 starts has cemented him as the team’s top netminder.
Zach Zengue, senior midfielder, No. 19 — When Zengue touched the ball last season, good things usually happened. Georgetown players scored seven goals as a result of his elite distribution, and it helped fuel the team’s success. Zengue also added three goals to cement his All-Big East first team honor.
Strength
Net protection. Guided by the 10th-best defense in the country last season, the Hoyas found success in low-scoring games. With Manzing in goal, Georgetown allowed .806 goals per game. The Hoyas only allowed six shots in their first contest, but two of those found the back of the net.
Weakness
Shot efficiency. The Hoyas peppered the goal in their season opener, with 16 shots and seven on frame. But Georgetown only produced one score, and it came in the 87th minute. With the game already out of reach, the Hoyas finally broke onto the scoresheet.
Three things to watch
1. Can the backline repeat their performance? Despite two new faces alongside Luca Costabile in Maryland’s defense, holding Wake Forest to one shot on frame in 45 minutes was impressive. Lasse Kelp and Tristen Rose have cemented themselves as regular starters with their performances on Thursday.
2. DMV rivalry. The Terps and Georgetown have met 38 times already, and it has been very one-sided. Maryland has won 29 of these matchups and tied twice. However, the Terps’ last home victory dates back to 2016.
3. Will the transfers continue to impress? Maryland brought in four players from the transfer portal, and all of those additions started in Thursday’s game. Joseph Umberto Picotto dished out the Terps’ lone assist on a beautiful cross and Stephane Njike used his quick speed on the flank to give Demon Deacons’ defenders trouble.
