Sports Briefs

men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski, who recalled dozens of scouts turning out to see Steffen play when the team toured England in 2014. “He doesn’t overtalk. He knows the game, and he is commanding.”

After stints in the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer, Steffen earned a place at one of the most prestigious clubs in the most watched soccer league in the world, and was brought into Manchester City’s first team at the start of the 2020-21 season. He kept Marseille scoreless in a December 3-0 Champions League victory and temporarily took over the starting role for league competition when Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson tested positive for COVID-19. Steffen earned kudos from manager Pep Guardiola, who said that he “solved all the situations he faced brilliantly.”

Those accomplishments have been dampened by the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Steffen says, with the lack of fans, family and friends putting pressure on the players to find their own motivation.

“We’ve got to go out there and be professional,” he says. “You got to stay really tuned in and focused.”

Steffen has already made his mark in international competition as well, with 19 appearances for the U.S. senior team and back-to-back saves against eventual World Cup champion France in the dying moments of a 2018 draw that he notes as his most prized feat to date (in addition to a penalty shot denial on legend Wayne Rooney).

One of several young Americans building a reputation in European soccer leagues, Steffen is aiming to be the U.S. team’s starting goalkeeper for next year’s World Cup in Qatar. But, not surprisingly for someone who makes a living stopping the next shot, he wants to maintain a day-to-day perspective on building his confidence and leadership abilities on his sport’s brightest stage.

“(Goalkeepers) see all 21 other players back there,” Steffen says. “We have to be a leader and a voice.”—lf

SPORTS BRIEFS

Two Longtime Coaches Mark Milestones

Head women’s basketball coach BRENDA FRESE and head men’s soccer coach SASHO CIROVSKI each added red-letter victories to their UMD highlight reels this year.

Frese won her 500th game at Maryland when she led the Terps to a 95-73 rout of Nebraska on Feb. 14, making her the winningest coach in program history. She surpassed Hall of Famer Chris Weller, who won 499 games in her 27 seasons (1975-2002) at UMD.

Frese—whose record at Maryland is now 512131—finished her 19th season at the helm in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, where the No. 2-seed Terps dominated Mount St. Mary’s and Alabama in the first two rounds before falling to Texas, 64-61, in the Sweet 16. She was named National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic, as well as Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Cirovski, in his 28th season leading the men’s soccer squad, notched his 400th win with the Terps as they edged Michigan, 2-1, on March 11. (The season, normally played in the fall, was postponed to early spring due to COVID-19.)

The victory made Cirovski, who’s led Maryland to three NCAA titles, the sixth Division I men’s soccer coach to reach the 400-win mark at one school.

Terp Takes Big Ten’s Top Defensive Honor

Men’s basketball senior guard DARRYL MORSELL was named the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, as voted upon by the league’s 14 head coaches, making him the first player in program history to earn the conference honor.

“To be recognized by Big Ten coaches shows how much respect he has earned over the last four years,” Head Coach Mark Turgeon says. “Darryl worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and to see it validated is extremely special.” Morsell also earned an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten nod, as well as UMD’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Maryland made its 29th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season, with the No. 10-seeded Terps topping UConn in the first round before falling to Alabama in the Round of 32.