Luke Brown brings creativity and vision to Maryland men's soccer
Amar Sejdic'due south final goal for Maryland men's soccer was arguably his most important. In the NCAA Higher Cup final, with 5,000 fans in attendance, the attacking midfielder stepped upwardly and coolly slotted a penalty into the lesser corner, sealing the national championship victory. It was a fitting end to a glittering Maryland career in which he tallied 20 goals and 14 assists. Sejdic served as the ideal playmaking "No. ten," catalyzing Maryland's crime. He also dictated an intelligent pressing game that triggered endless counterattack opportunities. Simply, when his name was called past the Montreal Bear on in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Sejdic was gone.
His departure left coach Sasho Cirovski with a trouble. The captain was a vital source of goals and assists from midfield. Such difficulties were compounded by the deviation of Vinicius Lansade, who could have slid into Sejdic's function. With his options wearing thin, Cirovski had to look elsewhere.
Cirovski might accept found his playmaker. In early July, the Terps appear the arrival of midfielder Luke Brown from Hofstra University. The Cambridge, England native enjoyed 3 productive seasons with the Pride, showing the kind of technical and goal-scoring ability that Cirovski craves. And while the rising senior isn't a carbon copy of Sejdic, he projects to be a creative force in the final third for the Terps.
"Luke is a dynamic attacking histrion who is capable of creating and finishing," Cirovski said in a statement.
Brown totaled 16 goals and eight assists across three seasons on Long Island. His terminal season was too his most successful equally a creator, tying his career-high in assists despite missing time to injury. The attacking midfielder also showed a knack for big games, scoring twice in a slugfest at Syracuse on September 2. Brown further refined his game this summer, starring for United Soccer League Ii side Lionsbridge F.C., earning Fans Player of the Year for his efforts.
While his résumé impresses, the question is that of fit rather than technical power. He'south not a similar-for-like Sejdic replacement, but could fill up a like office. Hither'southward a expect at Brownish'due south strengths, and how he could do good the Terps this year.
Intelligent passer
Arguably Brown'southward most important attribute for the Terps is his vision. With the footstep and trickery on the flanks provided by Paul Bin and William James Hervé, Cirovski's "No. x" needs to be able to feed the wingers and get-go counterattacks. Brown showed flashes of that quality in his fourth dimension at Hofstra. At times, it appeared that he was mayhap miscast for the Pride, with his skills better suited for short, intelligent buildup rather than a thumped long ball. However, when given license to spray the ball around, he did so with ataraxy. This offset-time pass to switch the point of attack is ideal in Maryland's counter-attacking setup (Brown is wearing the No. seven shirt in the post-obit picture show clips).
Such quick play, especially when the opposing defense is scrambling to get back into position, is incredibly effective for Maryland'southward attack. It should prove specially useful confronting offensive-minded opponents that wait to press high upward the pitch.
Chocolate-brown is also skilful at picking up the ball in the middle of the park and playing quick passes on the interruption. This could exist a useful threat for Maryland when the long ball isn't available.
But the Terps need to be versatile and must play confronting a variety of different opponents. While some familiar Large 10 sides will look to take the game to Maryland, many others will come to Ludwig Field and ready incredibly defensively. The Terps will likely accept closer contests that crave extra creativity in the last 3rd to unlock an opponent. A good crosser of the ball, Brown tin can offer some of the requisite skills against defensive-minded opposition.
Yet Brown is not without fault with the brawl at his feet. In the limited Hofstra organisation, he often tried to do besides much, playing the speculative ball rather than the like shooting fish in a barrel one. At Maryland, in that location's little room for the cheap giveaways and lapses that Dark-brown has occasionally suffered from.
Once the attacking midfielder gets on the same wavelength as his teammates, he should have many opportunities to create. Cirovski's fluid playing style may take some adjustment for the senior, just his ability to spray the ball around, every bit well as a touch of flair to his passing, should make any growing pains minimal.
Technical dribbler
In a Nov game confronting Delaware, Brown collected a pass under pressure level. With passing lanes to either center back cut off, he deftly feigned right earlier pushing the ball to his left. The move created the necessary space for an intelligent cantankerous-field pass that triggered a Pride counterattack.
The cool-headed sequence was 1 of many situations in which Brownish alleviated pressure with his feet. Such an ability to manufacture an opening is crucial when opponents press loftier up the pitch.
At Maryland, he volition exist expected to evidence similar skills on a regular footing. Sejdic served as the primary link between the attack and midfield. Teams often human being-marked him, so Sejdic learned how to dribble out of tight spaces. Dark-brown will take to practise the same.
Arguably Chocolate-brown's biggest claiming in a Maryland shirt will be identifying when to dribble and when to release the ball quickly. Moving from a long brawl system to ane that preaches quick passing is no piece of cake feat. Furthermore, Brown will likely run into Bin and Hervé regularly switch flanks in front of him, making darting diagonal runs to get in behind the opposing defense. Rapid and efficient conclusion making is paramount. Regardless of the choice Brown makes, he certainly has the skill to execute an incisive pass or accept on his defender.
An eye for goal
With the deviation of Sejdic and forward Sebastian Elney, the Terps lost 2 of their height three goal scorers from the 2022 flavor. Just Bin and Hervé can observe the net. And so too can strikers Eric Matzelevich and Justin Gielen. Still, the Terps have 12 goals to supersede — and with a weaker defence force, ideally ameliorate on. If goose egg else, that should be Brown'south biggest contribution to Maryland this year.
When deployed just behind the primary striker for Hofstra, and at times for Lionsbridge, Chocolate-brown loved to drift out to the left flank and cut in on his right foot and have a strike at goal.
This strategy was particularly effective when Hofstra full back Marcus Lindqvist bombed up the wing, drawing Brownish'due south defender away. Maryland plays in a like style, with the duo of Matt and Ben DiRosa flight downward the wings to fire crosses in. With those runs, Chocolate-brown has the choice to either observe the open man or put a shot on net — either of which gets Maryland a look at goal.
Chocolate-brown has also shown he can discover the net from exterior the box, and loves to shoot predominantly on his stronger right foot. Information technology showed in a crucial September matchup against Syracuse.
And he'southward constantly looking to score from distance, leading the Pride in shots despite missing six games to injury last year. However, Brown often sacrificed volume for accuracy. In tight games, with the Pride playing straight soccer, the junior occasionally shot from aggressive distances, despite having options to pass.
The next chapter
Afterwards forward Gordon Wild left to pursue professional soccer in 2017, Sejdic had to provide more goals. Now without their captain and summit scorer, Maryland is in a similarly daunting state of affairs. This year, they could look to the equally creative Dark-brown to fill up the void.
Ironically, Chocolate-brown's first goal of the 2022 flavor was identical to Sejdic'south final — a driven penalisation into the lesser left corner. The Terps will hope it's more a hefty coincidence.
Source: http://wmucsports.net/luke-brown-brings-creativity-and-vision-to-maryland-mens-soccer/
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