Terps Extend Winning Streak To Three Over Lehigh

Dec 13, 2013; Chester, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers midfielder Jordan Allen (8) fights for the ball with Maryland Terrapins midfielder Tsubasa Endoh (31) at PPL Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday night, the Maryland Terrapins soccer team beat Lehigh 2-0 to extend their winning streak to three. After a rough start to the season, the team appears to have found an identity. The winning streak marks the longest streak of the season and also marks a three game clean sheet streak for sophomore goalie Zack Steffen.

Senior midfielder Mikias Eticha scored twice tonight, bringing his total to three goals on the season. The first goal came with twelve minutes left in the first half, giving Maryland a 1-0 lead before halftime. Maryland dominated the game, and had an 11-2 shot advantage at the break, and finished with a 17-5 advantage. With eighteen minutes left in the game, Maryland found their insurance goal to seal the win.

After trying a couple of different lineups throughout the season, Sasho appears to have found a line up that works. Surprisingly the line up includes senior Alex Shinsky, who appeared to have fallen out of favor with the team at the beginning of the season. Along with finding a steady line-up, the defense has come together and improved on the small mistakes that doomed them earlier in the season. The unit is currently working on two hundred-seventy minutes of scoreless soccer. With the team four points out of first in the Big Ten and with three games left in the season, this is the time for the team to be hitting their stride.

Maryland’s three game winning streak has come in the comfort of their home field. The Terrapins are currently looking for their first win on the road, and will have a chance to do so on Sunday against Indiana. A 1-1 draw at Michigan is the best result the Terrapins have away from home, and that draw was a result of miracle goal with less than thirty seconds left in the game. In their last game on the road, Maryland fell behind by two goals early, but dug themselves out of the hole to force overtime before falling on a controversial out of bounds play.

Indiana is currently on their own winning streak with wins against St. Louis, at Louisville, and at Ohio State. They are currently 8-1-3 on the season, and sit tied with Maryland for third place in the Big Ten with seven points. Michigan and Penn State are ahead of both teams with eight and twelve points respective. Following Maryland’s game against Indiana, they will have games against Ohio State and at Rutgers left on their Big Ten slate. It will be important for Maryland to at least pick up a point to stay competitive with the top half of the conference.

The Terps and Hoosiers share four common opponents. Indiana drew to Georgetown and Northwestern, lost to Penn State, and beat Louisville, while Maryland lost to Georgetown, Northwestern, and Louisville, but beat Penn State. Indiana is a top offensive team, with nineteen goals on the season, good for 1.6 goals per game. Jamie Vollmer leads the team with ten points via three goals and four assists, while Tanner Thompson and Femi Hollinger-Janzen have three goals each. Goalie Colin Webb has six clean sheets on the season, and has only allowed 8 goals total, which makes for a .66 goal against average.

Zack Steffen and the Terps defense will have their hands full on Sunday. They are on a three game scoreless streak, but the defense will need to make sure they keep the small mistakes to a minimum. Poor ball handling and deep turnovers have doomed Maryland on the road, and against a team with three legitimate scoring options, it will be important to not give them any quick transition opportunities. Indiana and Maryland two of the most storied soccer programs in the Big Ten, which should make for a great game. The Terrapins made the College Cup the past two seasons, and the Hoosiers won the College Cup two seasons ago over Georgetown. Had Maryland beat the Hoyas in penalties, then these two teams programs would have met in Hoover, Al to determine the 2012 National Champion.

Maryland Starters vs Lehigh

GK: Zack Steffen

Def: Alex Crognale, Mikey Ambrose, Jereme Raley, Chris Odoi-Atsem

Mid: Dan Metzger, Mael Corboz, Mikias Eticha

For: Michael Sauers, Alex Shinsky, Tsubasa Endoh

Goals: Mikias Eticha – 2 (33′ ; 72′) (3)

Next Game: Sunday at Indiana 2:00 PM on BTN