Ohio State sophomore midfielder Joshua Jackson-Ketchup (10) dribbles the ball upfield in the first half of the game against the University of South Florida on Sept. 7, 2018. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor
The Ohio State men’s soccer team (1-11-2, 0-4-1) will travel to College Park, Maryland to take on the University of Maryland (5-5-3, 2-3-0) on Friday.
The Buckeyes come into the matchup on a six-game losing streak, while the Terrapins enter Friday 3-2-1 in their last six.
Much like the stagnant Ohio State offense, the Maryland attack has seen its fair share of struggles throughout the season.
Junior forward/midfielder Paul Bin (three goals, two assists), freshman midfielder William James Herve (three goals, two assists) and senior midfielder Amar Sedjec (two goals) are the main catalysts going forward for Maryland.
“They bring a lot of everything. They’re very talented, they’re fast, they press, they’ve got some good pieces going forward, they’re a really good team,” Ohio State head coach Brian Maisonneuve said. “I know that they probably haven’t had as many wins as they have had in the past, but man, [playing] at their place on a Friday night, they’re a very very good team and they can beat anyone.”
Maryland redshirt junior goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has a .819 save percentage and a 0.79 goals against average on the season which places him in the top 40 in the nation in both categories.
For Ohio State, Friday’s match will bring about the return of junior defender Osman Fofanah, after a one-game absence due to a red card.
In Tuesday’s match against Kentucky, Maisonneuve decided to start sophomore forward Joshua Jackson-Ketchup in place of Fofanah at the right fullback position. With Fofanah’s return, Jackson-Ketchup will return to his normal position on the wing, Maisonneuve said.
“I’m just going to be able to get more attacking, and go out there defending without any hesitation because just being aware behind me I know that someone has my back,” Jackson-Ketchup said. “I realize if I lose it higher up the field, I track back but I know also my fullback will have my back, whereas if I’m fullback, now I go up, I’ve got to track back the whole way, the whole 90 yards.
Jackson-Ketchup said he’s looking forward to getting back on offense and taking the ball in the attacking half of the field in an attempt to create chances.
After their game against Maryland, the Buckeyes have one remaining home match on their schedule, when Ohio State returns to host Maisonneuve’s former team Indiana on Wednesday.
Ohio State will take on Maryland on Friday at 7 p.m.
