#Donovan pines full#
#Donovan pines professional#

Still, the goal was overturned (wrongly) by VAR, and Minnesota eventually won the match 1-0.

He jumped so high, his head was over the crossbar when he headed the ball up in the air. Donovan Pines called back goal against Minnesota United Off a corner kick, Pines towered over everyone, heading the ball over an outstretched Vito Mannone into the goal.

#Donovan pines professional#

That was never more prominent than in a match at Minnesota United on April 28th, where he scored what should have been his first professional goal. Pines immediately made an impact on the defense with his height, his marking, and his athleticism in the air.

#Donovan pines full#

He made his Black-and-Red debut against the Colorado Rapids on April 14th, going the full 90 and adding an assist in a 3-2 victory. United against Los Angeles Football Club on April 6th. After a few matches with Loudoun, it was clear that Pines was ready to compete with the senior team, and he was named in the 18 for the first time for D.C. In the end, the Black-and-Red were able to sign him as a Homegrown Player on January 23rd, and he was expected to help shore up the defense and provide depth at centerback.Īfter preseason, he was loaned to Loudoun United and made his professional debut for them on March 10th against Nashville SC. He was linked to many teams in Europe as he considered his professional future. He left the Maryland Terrapins after winning the 2018 national championship, earning several accolades in the process. United fans were hoping would be on the roster when the 2019 season began. “And certainly for Donovan, the light has come on, and it’s shining bright.Donovan Pines was a name that D.C. “I can’t remember the moment, but sometimes the light just goes on,” Cirovski said. He still pushes himself constructively, but not as tough on himself as he once was during the early stages of his college development. Luckily, they’ll take on that challenge with a Pines who believes in himself. The Terps are nearing a tough three-game stretch in 10 days that includes two conferences matches. With defender Chase Gasper’s expected return from a back injury unclear and several players such as defender Ben Di Rosa recovering from illnesses last week, Pines’ defensive leadership will be imperative until the team gets back to full health. “We both have each other’s back on the field so it’s a good relationship.” “He’s always talking to me, telling me where to go and to make sure I have guys behind me, in front me, telling me left or right, ” Crognale said. While he makes sure he’s putting himself in the right positions to make himself a more successful player, he’s also shown the ability to assist the midfielders in front of him, aiding the team’s cohesiveness. Pines is never the fastest player on the field, but to compensate for that, Pines has mastered being in the right spots when he needs to be and using his big frame to fend off smaller players. You can’t get around him … he’s unbelievable.” “Donnie’s absolutely the best defender in the country. “Having Donnie back there, sometimes to a fault you think, ‘I don’t have to make this run because I know he’s there,'” midfielder Eli Crognale said. After conceding two goals in the first 38 minutes of the season, the Terps have allowed just as many in the last 547. The Clarksville native has been the backbone of a backline that has conceded just four goals this season.Īlongside center back Johannes Bergmann, Pines has helped lead a team ranked 18th in the country in average goals allowed per game. Clair is the only Terp who has played more than him. This year, Pines has only been off the field for six minutes in the team’s first six games. “I adjusted pretty well and then I got my starting spot and I had fun for the rest of the season.” “I just played my position and waited for my time,” Pines said. He started in eight of the Terps’ nine clean sheets last year and became a focal point of a backline that conceded 20 goals in 19 games. Pines earned Big Ten All-Second Team honors after becoming one of Maryland’s two starting center defenders in mid-September. Other than missing two games late last season due to a concussion, Pines has started every game since that 3-0 win against the Scarlet Knights. Pines only started in three of the team’s first six games, including a nine-minute performance against Rutgers. Pines and Miles Stray, who transferred to San Diego State after last year, traded starts for the first three weeks of the 2017 campaign.