On paper, the talent was there for this year’s Maryland men’s soccer team to hoist the national championship.
With a loaded freshman class — ranked the fifth-best in the country according to TopDrawerClass — and four impactful transfers that immediately slotted into the starting lineup, expectations within the program were set on at least a trip to Cary, North Carolina.
And after the conclusion of the second round, a clear path emerged too. As the highest seed left in the draw, the pressure quickly
shifted back to the Terps. A commanding 3-0 victory over No. 13-seed UConn backed that.
But for a second consecutive season, injuries derailed Maryland’s campaign.
The Terps’ depth this year was arguably Sasho Cirovski’s best across his tenure in College Park, something he regularly preached. With a consistent rotation of 17 players during Big Ten play, Maryland avoided any lengthy absences in the regular season.
That luck ran out in the postseason.
Jace Clark picked up a knock against UCLA and never looked the same. Leon Koehl wasn’t 100% throughout the NCAA Tournament. Joseph Umberto Picotto and Kenny Quist-Therson were sidelined after injuries against UConn. Lasse Kelp dealt with illness leading up to Saturday.
Nearly half of the Terps’ starting lineup was banged up heading into the Washington match. Maryland’s biggest strength quickly turned into an area of concern, eventually leading to its exit.
“It’s hard to talk about right now because all I feel is raw emptiness,” Cirovski said postgame. “To lose two games in a season, and to go undefeated in the Big Ten; to be the No. 1 ranked team at the end of the regular season; to be the only top-four seed to still be playing today is a pretty special accomplishment.”
After Maryland suffered a down year in 2023, the senior class was vital in dragging the program back to the high standards set. The Terps reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the first time in seven years and were on the doorsteps of advancing to the College Cup.
“I spent some time talking to all of them,” Cirovski said. “I challenge every group to leave a legacy. I think this group will leave the legacy that they brought Maryland soccer back to the forefront of the country. They made us legitimate contenders.”
Seven of Maryland’s starting 11 depart, totalling more than 10,000 minutes this season — including five of the top six minute-getters. The Terps must rebuild nearly their entire core, replacing their full midfield trio and three of four starting defenders.
While the Terps fell short of expectations, the future of the program is still promising.
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Laurin Mack returns between the pipes. The German sophomore eclipsed 100 career saves midway through the season and finished with the ninth-most shutouts in the nation (9).
Clark and Farouk Cisse are Maryland’s lone pieces coming back in defense. The two split time playing right back, but will likely man opposite flanks in the backline next season. Freshman Emil Nymann Anderson should see more playing time after appearing in the final two games. That trio — alongside Casey Price, who redshirted — are the only defensive returners.
Maryland’s midfield rotation for 2026 is wide open.
Quist-Therson should be a significant asset going forward after appearing in 13 games this season — all but one off the bench. Albi Ndrenika will likely shift back to his preferred attacking midfield position. Despite switching to striker midway through the season, Ndrenika still posted a team-high eight assists and had four timely goals.
Henry Bernstein is another name that should assume a more prominent role next year. The Terps’ lone goalscorer against Washington totaled the third-most minutes in a talented freshman class. Bernstein was Maryland’s first sub in the midfield during the postseason.
While the Terps don’t have much continuity in its defense or midfield, their potent attack should remain a strength next season.
Maryland’s second-leading goalscorer Stephane Njike has two more years of college eligibility. Whether he returns is the biggest question. Despite contributing seven goals, Njike was practically nonexistent during postseason play. He was one of three Terps players to be invited to the 2025 MLS Showcase. Njike’s decision will be a major indicator of next season’s potential.
Rocket Ritarita lived up to the hype in his freshman campaign. The highly-touted recruit showed flashes of his potential against Big Ten opponents after a stellar nonconference slate. But his play elevated in the NCAA Tournament. Ritarita scored in Maryland’s second and third-round victories, finishing with the second-most goals (4) of Big Ten freshman.
Colin Griffith could decide to return for another season. After missing the 2025 campaign due to injury, Griffith has an option to use a medical redshirt and play next year. If he doesn’t return, Luke van Heukelum is poised to take over the starting center forward position.
With the Terps’ 2026 recruiting class still largely unknown — three-star goalkeeper Zach Cielewich is the only commitment thus far — Cirovski has a ton of roster space to operate with. While he didn’t need to rely on the transfer portal last offseason, Cirovski will likely rely on bringing in experienced players to fill out the openings in Maryland’s lineup.
With his ability to constantly reload, Terps’ fans should expect next season to be continued progress towards a national championship. If Cirovski can hit on some impact additions this offseason, there is no question that the talent will once again be there next season for a trophy.
