Maryland men’s soccer expands 2023 signing class with two additions

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski announced the addition of Kimani Stewart-Baynes and Bjarne Thiesen to the program’s 2023 roster.

“I am pleased to welcome Kimani and Bjarne to our already talented 2023 incoming class,” Cirovski said. “They add great value to our program not only with their undeniable soccer ability but also with their character qualities and competitive nature.”

Maryland previously announced the addition of nine signees in January, including early enrollees Tyler Prebenda and Saxon Wolcott. The Terps also recently completed a foreign tour to Portugal.

More on both new additions can be found below.

KIMANI STEWART-BAYNES

TORONTO, ONTARIO
VAUGHAN SOCCER CLUB // FATHER HENRY CARR CATHOLIC
FORWARD

Before Maryland: Played for Vaughan Soccer Club under coach Patrice Gheisar…same club that produced Terp standouts Dayne St. Clair, Malcom Johnston and Stefan Copetti…won League 1 U-19 with Vaughan…played 14 matches and 1,019 minutes, scoring 17 goals for the Vaughan U-19 team…scored nine goals and had seven assists for Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School…ran 11 seconds in the 100m dash in 11th grade.

Personal: Son of Dwight Baynes and Asha Stewart…brother Khamal Stewart-Baynes runs track for Miami…brother N’Keal Harry is an NFL wide receiver.

Why Maryland? “The history of the program. The environment. The facilities. The opportunity that it can give me to become a pro. The staff and players are amazing.”

Head Coach Sasho Cirovski: “Kimani is an explosive and dynamic attacking player. He can play as a striker, winger or midfielder. While he is a goal scoring threat with the ball, he also has a knack of getting on the end of services.”

BJARNE THIESEN

KIEL, GERMANY
WEST VIRGINIA // HOLSTEIN KIEL
DEFENDER

Before Maryland: Comes to Maryland after three years at West Virginia…started all 48 matches he played for the Mountaineers…scored five goals and added an assist…2022: started 19 matches and led WVU with 1,579 minutes…led a backline that notched six clean sheets..2022 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Regional Second Team selection…2022 All-Sun Belt Second Team…2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Award Watch List…preseason All-American…2021: 2021 United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American…2021 United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First-Team…TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Third Team…Academic All-Big 12 At-Large First Team…started 21 matches and totaled 1,980 minutes…helped the Mountaineers post nine clean sheets…2020: started all eight matches and played 726 minutes…scored two goals and had one assist.

Personal: Son of Dirk Thiesen and Astrid Lorenzen.

Head Coach Sasho Cirovski: “Bjarne is a very athletic and mature center back that is extremely comfortable with the ball in possession. He is a proven high level D1 player that will have an immediate impact on our team. His ability to read the game and execute on both sides of the ball will be a tremendous asset to our style of play.”