A building worth 23 championships: Maryland field hockey and women’s lacrosse unveil new home

Photo courtesy of Eddy Calkins

After decades of sharing a singular bathroom, Maryland field hockey and women’s lacrosse each have a place to call home.

Maryland Athletics unveiled a renovated Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse Complex facility December 6. Before the new facility, each team’s offices were in Xfinity Center and the players had no real place to bond.

“I’ve been waiting for like four years for this and it’s so surreal to actually be in here,” field hockey senior defender Rayne Wright said.

The brand-new, two-story facility is more than three times the size of the old complex building, growing from 5,000 square feet to just over 17,000 square feet. 

“I think we have two of the top programs in our sports in the country, and with the history and the tradition behind both of those programs, there’s no better team to share with,” women’s lacrosse coach Cathy Reese said. “It just makes sense to have this area for women’s athletics to shine and be celebrated.”

The teams have a combined 23 national championships, which are spotlighted with multiple trophy cases and halls of fame. 

Each team has its own meeting rooms, coach offices, lounges and locker rooms, all decorated with Maryland colors and branding. 

“Maryland, in general, having the flags and the colors that we represent, like more than any other state, it has its own flair and just amazing aspects and little details,” Wright said. 

The only room the teams share in the new space is a physical training room located in the center of the facility.

The facility overall allows the players to connect off the field.

“I think a couple of people came and watched the Super Bowl in here,” Wright said. “It’s just a nice place that we can chill [at], get serious with field hockey, talk to each other [and] meet each other up.”

The new facility is a part of the athletic department’s Building Champion’s Campaign. The multi-million dollar building was funded in part by private donations and the university’s athletic department. 

“There’s so many facility upgrades that are coming under this administration’s leadership,” Reese said. “And, you know, women’s lacrosse and field hockey, it’s been long needed and something that is just much appreciated.”

Both Reese and Wright understand the value this new facility has for future Terps. 

“Not only does our brand play into our recruiting, but this is just an added touch to that,” Wright said. 

“[We] haven’t had anybody through yet, but the fact that we haven’t had a locker room area to show people in two years is, I’m pretty sure, going to help us out a lot,” Reese said.

‘The Plex’ also added a new jumbotron and press box within the last year. 

“The jumbotron was great for the fans and brought a lot of energy,” Wright said. “And we were excited watching ourselves with such great edits and stuff like that, so it got us hyped for the games.”

The field hockey team played this past season at the complex in the fall, but the women’s lacrosse team played all of its home games at SECU Stadium last spring. The Terps hosted Drexel in their first home game at the new complex on Wednesday. 

“We’re really excited to be back here,” Reese said. “This facility for us will fill it. There will be fans packing the stands, the sidelines, and the grassy area. This is something for us to just really be celebrated again. Let’s get out there and cheer on Maryland lacrosse.”