When the University of Maryland women's soccer team wona game over Stony Brook on September 5, the team was upset because it had only beaten the winless Seawolves 2-0. Players and coaches alike felt like the victory rang hollow. My, how times have changed for the Terps' women's soccer program.

It wasn't that long ago that any win was considered a good win for the Terrapins, who won just 13 matches in 2007 and 2008 combined. Compare that to the 14 win the Terps posted in 2009 and the nine they already won to date this season.

One Terp who was there for the lean times and is now relishing the good is senior co-captain Caitlin McDowell.

Maryland wasn't really on McDowell's radar until head coach Brian Pensky, who was scouring the country looking for hard-working, intelligent, athletic and talented soccer players with which he could build his program, approached her at the Texas Shootout, which is one of the top women's soccer recruiting events in the country.

Pensky convinced McDowell to take an official visit to College Park and once she did she was hooked.

"I thought this is a program that has huge potential," said McDowell. "I was excited at the idea of playing in the ACC, the most competitive conference in the country. I knew Brian would be an amazing coach that I could learn a lot from. I like the idea of starting something incredible. It's awesome to be a part of something that literally develops before your eyes."

Incredible didn't come right away. McDowell's first game as a Terp is a memorable one, but not for the right reasons. Maryland had high expectations entering the 2007 season and opened with Eastern Kentucky, which looked to be no match for the much more talented Terps. However, the match ended in a frustrating scoreless tie that saw the Terps take an incredible 55 shots.

That match was a microcosm of the season for McDowell, who played in all 18 matches in 2007.

"Being a freshman is a transition for everyone. It was so exciting to immediately be involved in the action. However, I would be lying if I said it wasn't disappointing to keep winding up on the bad end of things. We just could not find a way to win that year. "

Those that came out to watch the Terps in 2007 and then in 2008 saw the improvement saw the foundation that was being laid for future success. But they also saw frustration that came from so many narrow defeats (14 of Maryland's 19 losses in 2007-08 came by one goal).

"I think our team has improved every year I have been here," said McDowell. "Seeing the talent from my class and the class below me gave us all great encouragement as to just how good we could be. I knew the results were coming. We were getting so close."

When the 2009 season began with a 3-1 road victory over Army it seemed like a cloud had lifted. No longer was the team described by its potential, but by its results. The Terps would go on to rattle off eight straight wins, including a 1-0 statement victory over perennial national power Santa Clara, to start the 2009 season and would go on to a berth in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

For McDowell it was the result of something the Terps strive for everyday.

"Since my freshman year we have always been a team that wants to outwork every other team. By building on that goal, we have been able to get every new class on board with the idea that we will compete every day in practice to make each other better. Over the past few recruiting years we have gained some amazing talent. The key was to mix that talent with our determination and build our team chemistry and that's where we found results."

The results are clear - 19 wins and counting for the Terps since the start of the 2009 season - and there is no question that the native of Plano, Texas, has been a huge factor in those results.

In each of her first two seasons McDowell, playing out wide in the midfield, totaled one goal and three assists. In the turnaround of 2009, she once again scored just one goal, but led the team with six assists.

Always a team-first player, McDowell agreed to move to left back this season in order to fill a hole in the line-up created by the graduation loss of both wide backs from the 2009 team. Despite the move, McDowell set a personal goal to lead the team in assists again this season and is doing just that with four already in just five games.

The unassuming McDowell is already among the top 10 in career assists at Maryland with 18, but that's not what she will ultimately be remembered for during her stay in College Park. Her legacy, like those of her fellow teammates from those 2007 and 2008 squads, will be written by future teams that she helped pave the way for.

"I am so blessed to be a part of this Maryland women's soccer team," she said. "My role has changed in various ways over the past few years in regards to position and leadership. It's been an amazing experience for me on this team. I am happy that I have been able to help with the turnaround but like we always say, `It's not about any one of us. It is about our team. Maryland Women's Soccer is who we are.'"