Top Terp: Paul Bin
With the modified college soccer season coming to a close, we wanted to highlight the University of Maryland soccer team and forward Paul Bin’s 2021 campaign. After numerous successful seasons with the Terps, Paul Bin is ready to take his next step at the professional level, and he’s had an excellent career at the collegiate level.
Originally from South Korea, Bin lived in London before moving to Arizona during high school, where he began playing for Real Salt Lake AZ. Coming from one of the top youth academies in the country, Bin was able to earn a spot in one of the strongest college rosters in North America.
Bin made 19 appearances in total during his first two years at Maryland, but he wouldn’t step into a prominent starter until the mythical 2018 season. Bin appeared in 21 matches that year, helping Maryland to its fourth NCAA National Championship. Bin scored four goals and added three assists during that year, and a majority of those goals gave Maryland significant wins along their road to the title. He tallied a goal against staunch Big 10 rival Indiana, he scored the winner against Denver and notched an overtime winner against Penn State. He was also a key starter in Maryland’s fantastic run to the title featuring a 13-game shutout win streak.
Following such a successful 2018 campaign, many expected Bin to have the chance to build on his breakout year and lead Maryland to another successful season. Unfortunately for Bin, an ACL injury on the first day of preseason sidelined him for the rest of his senior year.
Nevertheless, Bin would return as a redshirt senior in 2020-2021 to compete for one final season with the Terps. Across eight games during the modified season due to COVID-19, Bin scored three goals and dished one assist. After a tough road back from recovery, Bin was able to step up and guide Maryland to a Big 10 Tournament Semifinal appearance. At an individual level, Bin once again reasserted himself as an exciting young talent with the potential to play at the pro level.
While Bin attended an MLS showcase at the end of 2020 alongside Ben and Matt DiRosa -- who have now been drafted by NYCFC and Toronto FC -- Bin is still searching for a pro club. Back at the end of 2020, it seemed Bin was primarily focused on returning to play and having a big season to gain the attention of clubs around the country. After a successful 2021 season, it will be interesting to see if the South Korean fan-favorite around College Park can sign for a team in USL or MLS.
Bin’s college journey has had incredible ups and downs. Still, as he returns to his best form, there’s no reason to doubt that Bin can make it at the pro level and build upon the legacy of excellent players that have come out of the University of Maryland.
Photography by Cody Cervenka.
