Since 2013, the Maryland Women’s Soccer team has not had a winning season. In 2016, the Terps finished with only three wins in what was their worst season since joining the Big Ten.
Yet, even with all the struggles the team endured in recent years, they found themselves entering 2017 with a top 25 recruiting class and a jump in roster size.
The improvements have already payed off, the Terps sit at 6-1-1 through eight games this year.
So how did a struggling team recruit top talent to flip the program around? It started with a plan.
When head coach Ray Leone accepted the position at Maryland he knew turning the program around was not going to happen overnight, but he was more than ready for the challenge.
“I’m into building programs, that’s my thing,” said Leone. “I love that challenge, I love that process.”
Recruiting is definitely a challenge, especially in the world of women’s soccer where the process can begin as early as ninth or tenth grade. As Leone and his staff began their tenure at Maryland, it wasn’t always easy to go out and recruit as the staff had to make up for lost time.
“Recruiting women’s soccer is so advanced,” Leone said about the process. “We come in and we are scrambling.”
Although it was difficult at times, Leone stuck with a pitch that he knew would make players consider becoming a Terp. The pitch is something that Leone and his staff can sell to recruits to get them to make the decision to attend Maryland. The first part of that pitch includes getting players to believe in this process.
“I’m asking recruits, do you want that challenge,” explained Leone. “Do you want to do this with us?”
Senior midfielder Hope Gouterman can attest to this statement, even though she was recruited before Leone took over.
“If you want a place where you’re gonna work for what you get then this is where you belong,” said Lewandoski. “I think that everyone knows that.”
Having players buy into the concept of working together to help Maryland regain its glory is something that is very important to Leone and the program. Once he gets players to understand the goals and challenges ahead, Leone can start selling what else Maryland has to offer, which is plenty.
“We have so much to offer here,” said Leone. “With Cole [Fieldhouse], with the academics at the University of Maryland, it’s an easy sell.”
It’s an easy sell, especially when Leone and his staff can take his players through the new and improved Cole Fieldhouse. The former home to the Maryland Basketball team has been renovated into a state-of-the-art practice facility for athletic teams and the team is already chomping at the bit to get inside.
“We can’t wait to get in there,” exclaimed Leone. “We’re looking forward to it as soon as possible.”
The combination of the process and amenities makes the pitch pretty hard to resist. Yet, Leone does not just use it on any player. The staff knows exactly what type of players they want to represent the Maryland name.
“Competitive spirit…just a fight in them,” said Leone about what he looks for in potential players.
The players he has recruited in his short time as a Terp definitely fit the description, as the top 25 class has already made it’s impact on the field felt. Freshmen like Mikayla Dayes, a forward who is tied for the team lead in goals with three, are showing just how bright the program’s future is.
As younger players continue to grow and new players enter the program, everyone understands just how special these next few years in College Park can be.
“We’re so lucky to be a part of something so great,” said Gouterman. “It’s gonna be a pretty cool experience to start here and build those steps up.”
Whether they’re a senior or a freshman, every member of the team understands just how special it is to be a Terp at this moment, and Lewandowski perfectly summed up what it feels like to come to Maryland.
“It’s a win-win if you come here,” she said. “I think it’s really promising for the future of the group.”
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