COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A meeting with No. 1-ranked UCLA was important for all members of the University of Maryland men's soccer team, but it carried special significance for goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier. This was the redshirt junior's first career start at Ludwig Field, and it had been a long time coming.

“My parents actually met at Maryland,” Niedermeier said. “Yeah, I've got a cliché story.”

Niedermeier grew up around the team, as his family moved to the area when he was just a year old. He played for several clubs around the state while growing up, and even trained under a former Maryland coach. It was this connection that first brought him to the sidelines of Ludwig Field, as a ball boy at the age of 10.

Niedermeier starred at Broadneck High School, earning all-state honors for three consecutive seasons. He was the No. 58 recruit by College Soccer News coming out of high school, and was named to the 2011 NSCAA High School Scholar All-American team. But it was his character that attracted Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski.

“When you first meet Cody, you immediately fall in love with him,” Cirovski said. “He's a warm person. He's a tremendous teammate.”

Shortly after Niedermeier accepted his offer, the coach received a bit of affirmation for his decision to recruit the goalkeeper.

“A couple days after he committed, I got an email from a mom of one of his teammates just glowing about what a great person, teammate, leader and player Cody was,” Cirovski said. “You don't get those very often. It was an unsolicited email from the parent of one of his teammates. And everything this young man's mom said about Cody as a teammate was true.”

But, his career at Maryland didn't get off to a storybook start.

“I came in with what turned out to be a broken wrist, which we didn't really know about,” Niedermeier said.

An initial X-ray had shown up negative, so the Arnold, Md., native played with the injury for three months. When the pain became unbearable, Niedermeier had another X-ray, which revealed substantial damage. His wrist required a screw be inserted, but with just a month left in rehabilitation, the bone still hadn't healed properly. Trainers told Niedermeier he could play through the injury, if he could handle the pain.

“I was like 'Alright, I'll try to play through it,' because I'm a tough guy, I want to just play,” Niedermeier said.

After a couple months, the discomfort was too much. Another surgery and a second screw inserted into his wrist left Niedermeier with limited flexibility, but allowed him to play. He was finally healthy and ready to begin his sophomore campaign, when disaster struck again.

“Just before last year's preseason, I took a funny step playing pick-up with the guys trying to get ready for the year … and that was another seven months,” Niedermeier said.

He had a dislocated knee cap, torn cartilage and significant ligament damage. One misstep resulted in another season lost to injury.

“I have great admiration for him because he's been through a tremendous amount of adversity,” Cirovski said.

This season, Niedermeier's third year in the program, he's earned the starting job. Former goalkeeper Zack Steffen has moved on to play professionally, opening the door for Niedermeier's long-awaited debut at Ludwig Field.

“I'm just so happy for him, that he stuck it out and now that he is getting his opportunity,” Cirovski said. “It's a great feel-good story of working hard, being patient, overcoming adversity and being ready for your chance.”

Niedermeier stepped on the field, beaming from ear to ear. And going up against the top-ranked team in the country, he was unfazed. The goalkeeper notched six saves in the overtime victory, including several diving stops late in the second half. Niedermeier brought home Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. But more importantly, the Terps knocked off the Bruins and Niedermeier got to celebrate his first home victory in front of record crowd.

“It was surreal,” Niedermeier said. “I've spent the last couple days trying to figure out what's going on.”

Niedermeier has stepped up as one of the veteran leaders of this young squad. The Terps now have a signature win on their resume, and should have plenty of momentum entering Big Ten play. And with a confident Niedermeier in the net, they could certainly make some noise in the postseason.

“I got faith in the freshman class and I know we got the leaders on this team to take us there.”

Charlie Wright is a junior journalism student at the University of Maryland and is a contributing writer to umterps.com.