While No. 15 Maryland men's soccer was originally scheduled to face three ranked opponents during its nonconference slate -- Wake Forest, Georgetown and Pittsburgh -- stormy weather in North Carolina and unexpected losses by Pitt saw that number dwindle down to one.
That lone ranked win came all the way back on August 25, when the Terps traveled to then-No. 25 Georgetown and narrowly came out on top, 1-0. Since then, Maryland has gone eight straight games without running into a top-25 foe. The Terps posted a 5-0-3 record in those matches, solidifying their status as one of Division I's 16 remaining unbeaten teams.
Despite carrying loads of momentum into Big Ten play, Maryland's road-heavy start has proven to be overwhelming. Outside of their 3-1 victory against Wisconsin, the Terps have dropped a pair of disappointing draws to Penn State and UCLA.
While the attacking trio is usually productive -- Maryland has the sixth-best scoring offense in the country with 2.7 goals per game -- the Terps' couldn't break down UCLA's suffocating backline pressure. Maryland generated just two shots on frame Friday and was held scoreless for the first time this season.
But the Terps' next contest is one that could prove decisive in their Big Ten title race, simultaneously snapping their string of unranked clashes. Maryland hosts No. 13 Michigan on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The game will stream on Big Ten Plus.
2024 record: 9-5-7, 2-3-5 Big Ten
While head coach Chaka Daley has had inconsistent spells throughout his 13-year tenure, he has changed the standard in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As part of the Wolverines' uprising, Daley has brought Michigan to five NCAA Tournaments, including a third round appearance in 2019. He will be looking to engineer the Wolverines' first national championship.
After a four-year stretch without a postseason berth, last season saw Michigan's return to the 48-team field. During the Wolverines' nine-game unbeaten run, they climbed to No. 16 in the national rankings. Four of Michigan's five defeats last year came against Big Ten opposition, with a 2-0 defeat to Dayton in the NCAA Tournament second round the other blemish.
This year, the Wolverines caught fire after a season-opening 1-1 tie against Notre Dame, winning five of their next six games. Michigan's lone loss of the year came nearly two weeks ago in a rivalry clash against Michigan State. Outside of that performance, the Wolverines have been nearly untouchable, sitting in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten.
Quin Rogers, graduate student midfielder/forward, No. 6 -- Rogers doesn't touch the pitch all that often -- logging just 433 minutes through 10 games -- but when he does, good things typically happen. After recovering from an injury that sidelined him all last season, the California native has a team-high four goals. Rogers is a critical bench weapon when called upon.
Isaiah Goldson, junior goalkeeper, No. 1 -- Goldson quickly burst onto the national scene during his freshman campaign, totalling 13 starts as part of an inexperienced Michigan starting lineup. Since then, he's been a lock between the pipes. Goldson has posted five shutouts this season and conceded just 0.8 goals per game -- fourth-lowest in the Big Ten.
Shuma Sasaki, graduate student midfielder, No. 7 -- While Sasaki may not have been a splashy transfer addition -- he came from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school University of the Cumberlands -- he's been a vital piece this season. As one of four international players on the roster, the Japanese-born midfielder has produced three goals and dished out a pair of assists.
Protecting the net. Goldson has logged every minute this season as the Wolverines' goalkeeper and has been exceptional when called upon. But the backline in front of him has also done their job. Michigan has allowed just 24 shots on frame in ten games and required Goldson to make 16 saves -- the lowest in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have the second-best defense in the conference, only trailing Maryland by one goal.
Shot efficiency. Despite scoring 20 goals this season, Michigan is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten in terms of creating quality chances. The Wolverines have fired off 145 shots and only 56 have troubled opposing goalkeepers. Against a Maryland backline that doesn't allow many goalscoring opportunities, Michigan will have to be ruthless with its chances on Friday.
- Litmus test. While Maryland's win over then-No. 25 Georgetown has aged well -- the Hoyas have climbed up to No. 14 in the national rankings -- that victory was over a month ago. Michigan's red-hot form will present a much greater challenge, and Friday's result could be the difference in seeding atop the Big Ten come November.
- Home crowd success. Besides their 2-2 tie against Bucknell earlier this season, the Terps have been dominant at Ludwig Field, winning four of five games by an average margin of 3.5 goals. The stands on Friday will likely be packed given the magnitude of the game, which could propel Maryland to a victory.
- Quick start. The Terps have been prone to sloppy starts, and Friday’s match against UCLA was no different. Maryland struggled to maintain possession early on, resulting in a ton of defensive work. Despite growing into the game, the Terps failed to find the game-winning goal. Maryland will need to wear Michigan down with ball control early on.