Albi Ndrenika’s Maryland men’s soccer career was once in jeopardy.
The senior missed parts of his freshman season with a back injury and was sidelined for his entire sophomore campaign with a rare ailment that left doctors perplexed. Coach Sasho Cirovski thought Ndrenika may have to medically retire.
But the midfielder recovered. He’s remained healthy since his junior year in 2024 and been an integral piece for the Terps since. Friday may have been his crowning moment, though.
In the 82nd minute of a scoreless match, Ndrenika tapped in a shot from close range off a deflection — the game-winning goal as No. 2 Maryland beat No. 14 Washington, 1-0, at Ludwig Field. The Terps jumped the Huskies atop the Big Ten standings and are on the precipice of their first conference championship since 2022.
“Top three for sure,” Ndrenika said, when asked where the moment ranks in his Maryland career. “Maybe it’ll drop to four if we win the Big Ten next Friday.”
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Ndrenika’s score was fitting in a year he already boasts twice as many points as he has ever notched before.
He noted he didn’t entirely feel like himself despite playing most of last season. But after Maryland’s (11-0-3, 7-0-2 Big Ten) first three matches this season, he said it was the best he felt during his entire career.
He opened this season as the Terps’ lone attacking midfielder and has spent the majority of his time in that spot. The senior’s precise passing has been on display en route to a team-leading seven-assist campaign.
Cirovski has also positioned Ndrenika on the wing and recently moved him into a striker-like role — one that sees him rotate with Joseph Umberto Picotto as the center piece in Maryland’s front three.
Friday marked Ndrenika’s first goal from the rotating-striker position.
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“As I shifted to the nine this year, I just try to be on the end of a lot of second balls,” Ndrenika said. “Joseph’s doing very well with that, so when he went up for the ball, I was just like ‘Where can I put myself in a position to get this wherever it goes?’”
Ndrenika’s defensive effort also reflected against the Huskies (10-3-3, 7-2 Big Ten). He cleared a cross out of play just a few minutes after giving the Terps the lead.
Washington created one other significant scoring chance after that, which came seconds before the final buzzer.
Maryland defender Jace Clark tried dispossessing junior Harrison Bertos on the edge of the 18-yard box. Bertos fell as Clark made a play on the ball, prompting virtually every Washington player to shout for a penalty — and to a lesser extent, a standard foul — as the Terps rushed to celebrate at midfield.
The referee checked the screen and blew full time, without issuing any foul against Maryland.
On the Terps’ senior night, Friday’s result was aptly determined by Ndrenika and Umberto Picotto, who got the decisive goal and assist, respectively.
“When you have that much experience on the field and they know this is the final year of eligibility, it means a lot more,” Cirovski said. “There was a lot of push by the whole team to make sure they walked out of here with a smile on their face.”
