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Maryland men’s soccer asserts itself in 3-0 defeat of No. 8 Wisconsin

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Maryland men’s soccer asserts itself in 3-0 defeat of No. 8 Wisconsin


On multiple occasions, Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski has said that his program views its 2024 campaign as a “revenge season” for its historically bad 2023 season.

Friday night, the Terps delivered a dominating win over a top-10 conference opponent, and Cirovski’s claims rang true.

Maryland opened conference play with a 3-0 victory against previously unbeaten No. 8 Wisconsin, getting goals from Chris Steinleitner, Bjarne Thiesen and Colin Griffith.

“Absolutely delighted with the effort, that was our best performance of the year,” Cirovski said. “It was a complete effort from beginning to end and it’s something we’ve been building to.”

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If you didn’t have any background information, you certainly wouldn’t have known Maryland was the underdog after watching the first 20 minutes of the match. Almost instantaneously after kickoff, Bjarne Thiesen got free for a header that was cleared off the line.

That chance set the tone for the game’s first half, as Maryland threatened in Wisconsin’s final third much more than it was being threatened in its own.

All these chances seemed to come to a head when Max Rogers pressured Wisconsin’s goalkeeper into a botched clearance straight to Griffith. Griffith played it straight back into Rogers, who turned and fired a low-driven shot that looked like it might find the bottom corner until it stung the post.

For a moment, it seemed Maryland had squandered its chance and were destined for another half of strong play without anything to show for it.

Then, on the ensuing corner, he ball fell in front of Steinleitner right around the penalty spot. He put his laces through it before it could hit the ground and drove it right into the bottom-right corner.

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“Finally we had that [offensive effectiveness that we wanted,” Steinleitner said. “We had like a lot of shots before in every game, but we didn’t translate that into goals.”

The goal remained the difference at the end of the first 45 minutes and the Terps went to the locker room protecting a one-goal lead over the nation’s No. 8 team.

While it may have seemed natural for the Terps to exit their halftime recess by playing conservatively and defending their lead, they came out of the locker room like they were the team trailing.

Early in the half, the Terps won a free kick from near the right touch line. Rogers stood over the ball and delivered a fantastic ball into the penalty area that Steinleitner flicked into the path of a streaking Thiesen, who headed it into the back of Wisconsin’s net, doubling Maryland’s lead.

Maryland wasn’t done there, either. Just over five minutes later and for the second game in a row, Griffith displayed some amazing skill as he curled the ball into the top right corner.

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“He had a very difficult injury prone year last year and we challenged him to put in the work this summer…” Cirovski said, “…. goal scorers build a lot of confidence when they score so he looks like a confident player at the moment.”

There the game remained as Maryland’s defense stood tall and held its first clean sheet of the season against an offense averaging over three goals per game.

Three things to know

1. Different formation produced offensive results. With forward Luke Van Heukelum out with a shoulder injury, Cirovski was forced to make a change to his normal lineup and formation. He shifted to a 4-3-3 and brought Steinleitner into the midfield, who rewarded him with a goal.

2. Ranking on the way? Far from usual expectations, the first month of the season passed without Maryland sniffing the weekly top 20 rankings. After a win of this magnitude, one might assume it will be close to if not in the next edition.

3. Maryland has become a set piece threat. Steinletner’s goal from the corner and Thiesen’s off the free kick marked Maryland’s fifth and sixth goals from some form of set piece this season. The ability to manufacture goals from these situations will be invaluable in conference play.

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“Max [Rogers] is serving a great ball,” Thiesen said, “So it’s more about us just getting in there and getting our head on something.”



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Maryland

3 dead after senior living bus hits dump truck head-on in Maryland

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3 dead after senior living bus hits dump truck head-on in Maryland


CHARLES CO., Maryland (WPVI) — Police say three have been killed in a crash involving a charter bus and dump truck in Maryland.

It happened around 8 a.m. Friday in Charles County, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C.

Authorities say the driver of a senior living bus somehow lost control and crossed the double yellow line, hitting the dump truck head-on.

All three occupants, including the driver of the bus, were pronounced dead on the scene.

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The dump truck driver was not hurt.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Maryland football vs. Virginia preview

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Maryland football vs. Virginia preview


Maryland football hits the road for the first time this season, traveling just 130 miles south to take on old ACC foe Virginia on Saturday night.

Saturday’s game will mark the 80th meeting between the two programs, with Maryland holding a 45-32-2 all-time record. It also won last year’s matchup, 42-14.

However, the Terps enter the contest hoping to bounce back from a devastating 27-24 loss to Michigan State, while Virginia is fresh off a tight 31-30 win over Wake Forest.

Saturday’s game will begin at 8 p.m. and air on ACC Network.

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Virginia Cavaliers (2-0, 1-0 ACC)

2023 record: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)

Head coach Tony Elliott is in the midst of his third season with the program after spending 11 years as an assistant coach at Clemson. After consecutive three-win seasons, the Hoos are off to their best start under Elliott. They defeated Richmond, 34-13, prior to their win over Wake Forest, in which it trailed by 13 heading into the fourth quarter.

With continuity throughout the roster and coaching staff, Virginia could surprise people this year.

Players to know

Anthony Colandrea, sophomore quarterback, No. 10 — Colandrea took over Virginia’s quarterbacking duties as a freshman last year and showed why he deserved it. In his debut game against James Madison, he completed 20-of-26 pass attempts for 377 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

This season, Colandrea has been just as sharp, posting a 75.8% completion percentage, 654 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

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Malachi Fields, senior wide receiver, No. 8 — Fields has been Colandrea’s go-to target this season. He leads the team in catches with 16 and the conference in receiving yards with 248. While he has not scored a touchdown this season, he caught five touchdowns last year and is an end-zone threat. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, the Terps may need to guard him with multiple defenders.

Antonio Clay, graduate safety, No. 0 — Clay is one of the Hoos’ defensive leaders. After missing the entire 2023 season due to injury, Clay has returned better than ever, leading the team in tackles with 19. He has also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

Jonas Sanker, senior safety, No. 20 — Sanker arguably has been Virginia’s best defensive player over the last two seasons. In 2022, he finished second on the team in total tackles (63), and in 2023, he led the team in total tackles (107), pass breakups (11) and forced fumbles (3) en route to a first-team All-ACC selection.

This season, Sanker ranks second on the team in total tackles with 18, but ranks first in tackles for loss with 2.5.

Strength

Passing offense. Colandrea and the passing offense is without a doubt the primary strength of this team. Virginia ranks sixth in the conference in passing yards per game (327) and passing touchdowns (5) and tied for fourth in completion percentage (72.5%). However, the Hoos do lead the conference in interceptions with three.

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Weakness

Passing defense. Virginia ranks near the middle of the ACC in almost every statistical category, but it ranks in the bottom three in passing yards allowed per game (256.5). The Hoos have also allowed a 61.5% opponent completion percentage and failed to record an interception, but they have only surrendered one passing touchdown.

Three things to watch

1. Will Maryland revert back to a two-quarterback system? In Maryland’s season opener, MJ Morris replaced Billy Edwards Jr. under center for a drive in the second and third quarters. Head coach Michael Locksley said this was part of the game plan and that he will continue to utilize Morris’ skill set. But with Morris sidelined with an injury against Michigan State, it remains unseen if Locksley will continue to use him.

2. Can the Terps stop Colandrea? Against Michigan State, Maryland’s defense allowed Aidan Chiles to throw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, despite throwing for just 114 yards and no touchdowns against Florida Atlantic the week prior. Colandrea has played well this season and could take advantage of a struggling Terps’ secondary.

3. A repeat of last year? Last season, Maryland dismantled Virginia, but the Hoos put up a valiant effort despite the final score. Virginia jumped out to a 14-0 lead and kept things close until the fourth quarter, when Maryland scored three unanswered touchdowns. With Virginia off to a hot start and the Terps struggling, a win may not come as easily for Maryland this year, especially with Virginia holding home-field advantage.



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April McClain-Delaney locked in tight race for Maryland's 6th

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April McClain-Delaney locked in tight race for Maryland's 6th


After a hard-fought primary on both sides of the aisle, voters in Maryland’s 6th Congressional district will choose a successor to current Democratic Rep. David Trone. April McClain-Delaney, a nonprofit leader and former Commerce Department official, is the Democratic nominee in what’s considered the most competitive race in Maryland and one that could determine which party controls the House when the next Congress convenes. She joins Jim Lokay on “The Final 5” to make her case as a Gonzales poll shows her in a virtual dead-heat against the Republican nominee, former Del. Neil Parrott.

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