What’s tougher than evaluating players in a game where there wasn’t a definitive outcome? How about doing so when 10 of them did the job of 11 for more than 70 minutes? Without further ado, my best try:
MacMath: 7. Finished with his best effort in goal all year, organizing a depleted and fatigued defense and coming up clutch several times to snare some dangerous crosses.
Lee: 6. A profane outburst transferred the coaching staff’s vitriol onto him for a moment, but otherwise held strong on the Rodkey-less right side.
White: 9. Kept the dynamic Ronnie Bouemboue invisible when the sides were even, and held him in check even when they weren’t.
Tangney: 6.5. Missed midfield lunge led to the Wolfpack’s lone goal and a last-minute stumble nearly broke the Terps’ hearts. Aside from those two gaffes, was a rock in the middle.
Kemp: 7. Coach Sasho Cirovski said he’s learning more and more each game, and it’s obvious. Had good positioning all game, though N.C. State’s athleticism neutralized some of his own.
Kassel: 6.5. Linked up the defense and offense with ease all game. Still, 10 corners and four shots and not one point?
Rodkey: 5. Was a huge part of the Terps’ early-game dominance with his passing and ball control, but then was victimized by some questionable officiating.
Yates: 8. After slow start, won 50-50 balls of every fashion and kept his motor running until he was rewarded with a goal with only minutes to go in regulation.
Forbess: 7. Had maybe his best game all season. Still looking for his shot, but made some great passes that sprung the attack.
Herrick: 8.5. Dropped back into the midfield for the game’s final two-thirds and showed he’s as adept in the middle as he was up top — if not more so.
Townsend: 7. Ran and ran and ran all game until he ran himself off the field with an apparent leg injury. After Rodkey’s ejection and Herrick’s repositioning, wasn’t able to do what he wanted to as lone striker.
Check in tomorrow night for the pre-game goods before the Terps take on the mighty Peacocks of Saint Peter’s!
Jonas Shaffer is The Diamondback’s men’s soccer beat writer. He can be reached at shaffer@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jonas_shaffer.