Men's soccer's backline keeping up so far

As London Woodberry ambled off Ludwig Field on Friday night, each step was more laborious than the last.

The Terrapins men's soccer defender had just logged a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over No. 2 Creighton, the Terps' second against a top-15 opponent that week. Mercifully, a reprieve from running was finally coming.

"Honestly, practices this week were about getting our legs back from the Tuesday game," Woodberry said after the game, referring to the No. 3 Terps' 3-1 win over No. 12 Charlotte. "It took a lot out of our legs, but it wasn't too much this week."

Fresh legs or not, nothing's been too much for the Terps' backline to handle this season.

Although their vaunted three-headed attack of forwards Casey Townsend and Patrick Mullins and midfielder John Stertzer command most of the headlines, the Terps' backline has played a crucial role in the team's best start in more than 40 years.

"I mean, I don't really think about it much," Woodberry said. "I actually love watching our offense play. The more they have the ball, the better."

Converted midfielders Widner Saint Cyr and Woodberry have joined third-year starters Alex Lee and Taylor Kemp to form one of the country's most formidable back fours.

And despite having played at least one more game than every other ACC team, the Terps have allowed the fewest goals (seven) in the conference.

They've been so effective, in fact, that goalkeeper Will Swaim has often been forced to stand patiently and wait for a chance to get involved. The redshirt senior has needed to record only 20 saves en route to recording five shutouts this season.

Of course, he's not complaining.

"They make all the difference in the world," said Swaim, who didn't see a single shot attempt through the first 48 minutes Friday. "Knowing you're going to get consistent play from your backline every single night, it makes my job a whole hell of a lot easier."

What separates the Terps' backline from other top-tier defensive units isn't how little they make their goalkeeper work, however. It's their maturity.

Between their four members, the Terps' backline has appeared in 186 career games. Playing with each other over the past three years, they've developed strong personal relationships off the field that have translated into improved work together on it.

"Communication is a critical component on the defensive side of the ball," coach Sasho Cirovski said. "And trust is a very big part of that. They're a group of guys that really knows each other, and I think that's a huge part of their success."

The Terps' backline will be tested once again when they face Rutgers (4-4-1) tonight at Ludwig Field. Led by sophomore forward Kene Eze's five goals, the Scarlet Knights rank third in the Big East in scoring.

They've already proven they can compete with top-25 competition, narrowly losing to No. 6 Indiana and No. 23 Furman in recent weeks.

"Rutgers is going to be a huge test for us," Swaim said. "We've got to make sure we're on our game."

But for Woodberry, it's not about who's standing down the sideline. It's not even about how exhausted he may feel. It's about staying strong mentally.

"When we learn how to stay focused for the full 90 minutes every game," Woodberry said, "I think we're going to be able to go deep this year."

letourneau@umdbk.com