Down To Death Valley...Well Not Me, but RGD and the Terps

So where the hell have I been? I sat in this very spot last week promising a new blog before the Wake Forest game, I guaranteed that I would scout the Demon Deacons and give you a fearless crew chief prediction! So now here we are, essentially a week and a half past that game on the way to Clemson and you have been given NOTHING! My loyal readers have been deprived of their WMUC blog cravings. Well fear no more, because your loyal (okay semi-loyal) crew chief has returned from the dead to provide you with the blog you have been begging for. In case you were wondering, I have been extremely backed up at life, with my internship and classes and other obligations taking up all my time. Every time I say I'm going to sit down and blog, I sit down and do something else…until now. Let's talk a little soccer shall we?

Last week in the thunder and lightening at Ludwig, Wake Forest came in and proved that they are the best team in the country. The Demon Deacons took the Terrapins absolute best shots in the first half. With both strikers scoring for Maryland, the Terps had gotten exactly what they wanted. They scored early (within the first five minutes) to get up 1-0 and then retaliated when Wake Forest took the lead and went up 2-1. Up twice on the #1 team in the country, you had to be stoked if you were a Terp or a Terp fan. However, Wake Forest battled back. There was never any fear or panic they just kept taking everything Maryland had to offer. A miscue toward the end of the first half, which featured a breakdown of the Maryland defense (especially by their star Omar Gonzalez) tied the game up at 2 a piece.

The second half of this game was ALL Wake Forest. Matt Kassel and Graham Zusi, the two inside midfielders for Maryland, whether injured or just ineffective, were helpless. Ike Opara, an All-ACC Freshman last season, was OUTSTANDING scoring a goal and playing incredible defense all night long. Wake scored two goals in that second half, Maryland barely had any opportunity (minus a goal from Forbes on a play he was clearly offside on) and Wake took the game and retained their number 1 ranking. Maryland's ranking did not drop too much after the loss, they dropped to #4 which seems about right. Wake Forest and Maryland are the class of the ACC and certainly two of the top teams in the nation. I know for sure that they will meet each other again, whether it is in the ACC Tournament or the College Cup. These two teams put on a wonderful performance all around and they deserve a chance to showcase their talents later on in the year.

Interesting note that I said on the broadcast, I wasn't too impressed with Will Swaim's performance in this game. While he was okay, I've seen better from him. I thought maybe one or two goals he could have stopped or at least been in better position for. By coincidence or not, Zac MacMath got the start against Binghamton on Tuesday in another rain dominated game. MacMath didn’t allow a goal as the Terps escaped a tough game against a good out of conference team, winning 1-0. After the game, Sasho said he is unsure of who will start at Clemson. If it’s MacMath we have a full blown goalie controversy on hand again, the same as the likes of the Holder/Swaim one of last year. While both goalies say they feed off the competition and are great friends on and off the field, you know they both want to start. Also, the team would rather have one goaltender leading the team. Each goaltender has different styles of leading and playing and the quicker this team can decide on a goalie, I feel like the quicker they will be more successful. Sasho would rather go with a two headed monster at goalie though, which I think will bring more rough patches to this team than smooth sailing.

Tonight, the Terps take the nine hour trip to Clemson. Clemson, while they aren't nearly as good as they have been in year's past, all ACC games are tough and Death Valley is certainly a tough place to play. Maryland is going to have to bring their best game in order to win and stay at #4. Who will start in goal? Which Omar Gonzalez will show up? Will Robert Gerard Dawson make it to Clemson to give you the best solo broadcast of All-Time?

Until next time…That’s a Rap!

~Sussman