After recent upsets, is this the year for men's soccer?

The Maryland men’s soccer team has had its share of triumphs and disappointments over the past ten years. The Terps are proud to have won two national championships, in 2005 and 2008, but they also boast three semifinal losses as well as recent early round exits. After back-to-back seasons with a first round bye in the NCAA tournament, the Terps did not come close to their own lofty expectations with a quarterfinal loss in 2010, and a third round loss in 2011.

As the Terps kicked off the second half of the 2012 season with a 3-2 win against College of Charleston Saturday night, expectations are once again mounting for the top-ranked men’s soccer team in the nation.

In a Diamondback article from Sept. 28, head coach Sasho Cirovski claimed that Maryland’s aim this season is to win the ACC and NCAA championships. While, a No. 1 ranking certainly shows that this team is capable of doing so, is it wise to put so much pressure on a team that has struggled recently as the favorite?

One aspect of the Terps’ game that could prove beneficiary in tournament play is their ability to get goals from a variety of players. While forward Patrick Mullins has paced the team with five goals, 11 other Terps also have scored this year, and seven have more than one goal. This versatility will give opposing defenses nightmares when decided who to watch for.

Another statistic of note is Maryland’s sheer dominance in terms of shot differential. As of Oct. 1, the Terps have taken more than twice as many shots as their opponents, with 143 taken verses 62 conceded. If this glaring disparity continues into the postseason, it will be incredibly difficult to keep pace with the Terps over the course of a 90-minute game.

Maryland plays six of its last eight regular season games in College Park, and finishing strong will be instrumental towards guaranteeing home field advantage in the ACC and NCAA tournament early round games. In both competitions, the higher seeded team plays at home until the semi-finals, and the ACC will finish its tournament in Germantown, Md. this year, another potential advantage for the Terps.

So how are we to react to Cirovski’s comments on his lofty expectations? Perhaps deferring to a 20-year coaching veteran’s judgment is best. Nonetheless, the road towards Cirovski’s goals seems to be paved in such a way where there will be no excuses for the Terps and no blame to place but on themselves.