COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Six Maryland men’s soccer student-athletes earned Big Ten honors and head coach Sasho Cirovski was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year as the conference announced its season awards Friday afternoon.
Sophomore Joshua Bolma (forward), senior Malcolm Johnston (midfield), senior Nick Richardson (defense) and senior Chris Rindov (defense) were all named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Freshman Luca Costabile (defense) was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team while junior Alex Nitzl was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
Cirovski earned Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time, previously being honored with the award in 2016. It is his fifth conference coach of the year honor after being ACC Coach of the Year on three occasions (2003, 2005, 2012). Cirovski lifted to Terps’ team picked to finish third in the Big Ten to the conference regular season crown and looks poised to take the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament, which is the longest streak in the nation. Maryland went unbeaten in the Big Ten for the first time since 2016.
Richardson, Maryland’s only remaining player from its 2018 National Championship team, had his best season as a Terp as a redshirt senior. He is tied for sixth in the Big Ten in assists with six and has added three goals from his right back position. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions this season. A captain, Richardson was previously named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2019.
Johnston is tied for the team lead in goals with five, which ranks eighth in the conference. The Aurora, Ontario native also has chipped in four assists and has served as a team captain. He earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors earlier this season and was previously named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2019.
Rindov earns his first Big Ten season plaudits of his career after a fantastic season for the Terps at center back. The Rockville, Md., native was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice this year and played every minute for Maryland. Maryland’s third team captain, he has scored a pair of goals and added an assist.
Bolma, who was the Big Ten Freshman of the…
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