A few matches into Maryland men’s soccer’s 2025 season, center back Lasse Kelp called teammate Laurin Mack the best goalkeeper in the country. It was lofty praise, but he’s since been vindicated.

The German shot stopper has played every minute in goal this season, saving 83 percent of the shots he’s faced — the highest mark among Big Ten starting goalkeepers, and the 12th-best clip in the country.

Mack entered a Maryland program that’s produced esteemed professional goalkeepers such as Dayne St. Clair and Zack Steffen. In what’s been a historically impressive season so far, the sophomore is etching his name alongside his position’s predecessors.

Through 14 games, Mack has conceded 0.64 goals per game. He’s also kept eight clean sheets — which coach Sasho Cirovski describes as “team achievements” — while allowing just nine goals.

Intangibles have played a large role in Mack’s success this year.

“My English in the beginning [last season] wasn’t as great,” Mack said. “I definitely developed in that case.”

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With his vantage point of the whole field, Mack’s stronger grasp of the language has helped him improvecommunication with the defenders and midfielders in front of him.

In 2024, Mack faced a communication disadvantage as the Terps’ only foreign-born freshman to consistently start games. The four defenders that usually started in front of him were European upperclassmen who had already played multiple seasons in American college soccer.

The Terps’ starting back line this season has two Americans in Jace Clark and Tristen Rose. They play alongside senior international defenders Kelp and Luca Costabile.

English remains the common on-field language, even though Maryland features an abundance of starters from other countries. But when advantageous, Mack occasionally speaks to teammates in his native language.

“I’m telling [Kelp] quick little comments in German, and then he knows what to do, and opponents or the striker doesn’t know what we’re talking about,” Mack said.

The sophomore’s language development has fostered statistical improvements. But one of his best traits doesn’t appear in the box score.

Mack’s comfort level with the ball at his feet dates back to his youth, when he also played striker for his local club, FC Emmendingen. Mack played in goal regularly while in SC Freiburg’s academy.

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Mack said his understanding of the goalkeeper position was also shaped by professionals such as Manuel Neuer and Ederson. Both embody the “sweeper keeper”, a term used to describe shot stoppers who are confident enough with the ball at their feet and can leave their goal to serve as an extra defender when needed.

Bringing in a goalkeeper like Mack was an obvious tactical fit for Cirovski and his staff.

Maryland plays a possession-based style of soccer, which is best suited for goalkeepers who can control the ball, deliver accurate passes and leave their 18-yard box. Having someone who can perform that role gives the Terps a numerical advantage in possession — essentially having 11 outfield players instead of 10.

Mack sometimes drifts well outside the penalty area to play passes alongside Terp defenders. In other instances, he sparks counter attacks by punting the ball upfield as teammates make runs in behind the opposing defense.

“I said to Sadam [Masereka] and Steph [Njike], ‘As soon as I have the ball, I’m going to try to find you guys, and you have to offer me something with runs,’” Mack said. “Normally, as soon as I have the ball, they know what to do.”

Mack committed to Maryland having never visited the campus. Less than two years into his Maryland career, that blind decision has clearly seemed to work out.