Terps have keeper conundrum

With less than a minute left in regulation of a Sept. 22 overtime loss at Duke, freshman goalkeeper Will Swaim held off a strong Duke scoring opportunity for the Terrapin men's soccer team. As a Duke player sent a cross in front of the goal to leading scorer Paul Dudley, Swaim patiently waited back and knocked the ball away from Dudley twice to stop the one-on-one opportunity.

With his team down 1-0 near the end of regulation in a Sept. 29 loss at Wake Forest, freshman goalkeeper Thorne Holder kept his team alive. On a counterattack, Holder raced upfield to knock a ball away from the Demon Deacon transition near midfield.

The Terps (4-4-2) have relied on both players so far this season. Each has started five games and each has a record of 2-2-1. With similar results thus far, the team has "two very good goalies," according to coach Sasho Cirovski. A minor injury to Swaim has allowed Holder to start recently, but the two will continue to split time throughout the season.

While each has taken strides and learned from the coach and each other, Cirovski has yet to annoint either with top billing.

"We have not identified a clear number one yet," Cirovski said. "Both guys have had some very good moments over the first ten games. ... Neither has, at this point, claimed the number-one spot."

Off the field, the two joke around like brothers. On the field, they are complete opposites.

Swaim provides the Terps with a true goalkeeper. He has displayed strong instincts and boasts an impressive 84.6 save percentage, good for third in the ACC behind Wake Forest's Brian Edwards and Boston College's Chris Brown - both of whom have shut out the Terps. Swaim has shut out Notre Dame and Old Dominion and recorded a season-high nine saves in the Terps' 2-1 double-overtime loss to Duke.

Holder is an athlete in the goal with a strong leg. Cirovski called him the fastest player on the team, and Holder himself said he has received much praise for his leaping ability. The 21-year-old Trinidadian aggressively leaves the net to send balls flying and called his feeding ability a personal strength. While allowing seven goals on 17 shots on goal, Holder came up with a crucial diving save last Friday at the beginning of overtime against Clemson, allowing the Terps to eventually come away with the win. He also shutout George Mason, his only shutout of the season.

As a result of their different styles, the Terp defense has been forced to play differently depending on who they are protecting.

"Really, you've just got to know your keeper," freshman defender Sean Flatley said. "When Thorne's in there, we've got to know that he comes out, and we've got to play to that. When Will's in there, we've got to know that he might sit back, and we've got to play to that. But either way, they both have their different styles and they both do a great job in net."

Both have yet to be proven as consistently dominant as Chris Seitz, who left the Terps as a sophomore last year after winning a national championship in 2005 and being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Entering the year, Holder emphasized that the two should grow together and push each other. The two have worked together both on and off the field as roommates and teammates.

However, the lack of consistent playing time can make staying in top form more difficult, despite rigorous practice and drills.

"For any goalkeeper, it's kind of difficult because of the inconsistency in play," Holder said. "A lot of [goalkeeping] is confidence. And confidence comes with play, playing a good game."

Holder has had the opportunity to develop that confidence over the past few games. With Swaim not 100 percent healthy due to an unspecified injury, he will be starting his fourth consecutive game tonight against Lehigh.

But Swaim holds no bitterness. The two are close friends who talk about "ourselves and our girlfriends and soccer."

"It's definitely a great relationship," Swaim agreed.

The two have big shoes to fill. And, utilizing their varied abilities, Cirovski will continue to try and figure out what is best for his team.

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