COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The highly-successful Maryland field hockey program will welcome seven top freshmen this year as part of Maryland's 2022 recruiting class. Lillian Buckwalter (Lancaster, Pa.), Reese Delp (Kensington, Md.), Leah Horwitz (Charlotte, N.C.), Sophie Klautz (Oegstgeest, Netherlands), Juana Laskowski (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Ericka Morris-Adams (Chesire, England), Ava Trexler (Pittsgrove, N.J.) signed on to enroll in the University of Maryland, head coach
Missy Meharg and her staff announced Tuesday.
"From Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Argentina, Holland and England, this class brings depth, diversity and talent from around the globe," Meharg said.
LILLIAN BUCKWALTER
Defense/Midfield
Lancaster, Pa. ● Conestoga Valley High School
About Buckwalter: Played 4 years of varsity field hockey… a 3-time Lancaster Lebanon League All Star, including First Team in 2021… a Lancaster Lebanon League Section 1 Top 10 scorer in 2021… named to the 2021 All-League Team… helped team to 2019 Lancaster Lebanon League Section 1 title… Rookie of the Year… played for X-Calibur hockey… club team won its 2020-21 National Indoor Pool, was 2021 JPOL runner-up and a 2021 National Club Championship qualifier.
Meharg on Buckwalter: "Welcome Lillian Buckwalter of Lancaster, Pennslvania. Having competed and developed in the Lancaster, Pa. school system, Lillian understands field hockey at all levels. Training with X-Caliber Hockey Club under head coach Brian Hope put Lillian on Maryland's radar. Her hockey IQ as it pertains to tactical setups, decision-making and counter defense lines are mature and will complement our style of play."
Buckwalter on Maryland: "I decided to come to Maryland for the competitive field hockey program and the academic opportunities."
REESE DELP
Forward/Midfield
Kensington, Md. ● Walter Johnson High School
About Delp: Four-year letterwinner in field hockey… served as team captain in her junior and senior seasons and led team in scoring all four years… earned Washington Post All-Met honors as a senior (Second Team) and junior (Honorable Mention)... named to the Maryland All-State Honorable Mention team in 2019… earned All-County and All-Division First Team honors in 2019 and 2021… named to the All-County and All-Division Second Team in 2018… played for Freedom Hockey… in the National Club Championships, team finished in 3rd place (U19, 2021), 5th place (U16, 2019), 6th place (U14, 2018), 2nd place (2017)... also played in national indoor tournaments.
Meharg on Delp: "Welcome Therese 'Reese' Delp. of Kensington, Md. Reese is a homegrown, fast, powerful attacking midfielder developed through the Freedom Hockey Club. Reese has the natural athleticism and hockey IQ to connect all lines. Reese is fluent in German and a member of the National Advisory Council for HOPE World Wide (international charity). She is all-team at the core of life."
Delp on Maryland: "I decided to come to Maryland for the opportunity to be part of something truly excellent, because I loved the team's family culture and the incredible coaching staff. I want to be challenged as much as I can athletically and academically."
LEAH HORWITZ
Midfield/Forward
Charlotte, N.C. ● Providence Day School
About Horwitz: Played 4 years of varsity field hockey… earned All-State honors in her junior and senior seasons… named to the Charlotte Observer Team One in 2021… named Charlotte Observer Athlete of the Week in her junior season… earned Honorable Mention, Cary Academy All Tournament Award in her sophomore campaign… team won the 2021 state championship and appeared in the 2019 and 2021 state championship games… team advanced to the state semifinals in 2018… played for the Charlotte Ambush club.
Meharg on Horwitz: "Welcome Leah Horwitz of Charlotte, N.C. Leah is a front runner both physically and mentally. Physically, Leah has played pivotal attack roles for the successes of both Providence Day School and Charlotte Ambush Hockey Club. She is exciting to watch as she carries the ball at top speed to eliminate defenders and set up her teammates. Leah has an entrepreneurial spirit. She is creative and thrives on taking greater than normal risks in order to advance herself, her environment and subsequently, Terp hockey."
Horwitz on Maryland: "Missy really made me feel welcomed and wanted. My Nana and Brother are both currently living in D.C. so it will be nice to be close to them."
SOPHIE KLAUTZ
Midfielder
Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
About Klautz: Played for the HDM club for 4 years… team took second in The Netherlands in 2019… Roeland Oltmans Cheque 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021… finished second in the 4 Nations tournament in 2019 and was named the Most Successful Youngest Player… took second place in 6 Nations in 2019… plays defense and center forward for Dutch U18 National Team.
Meharg on Klautz: "Welcome Sophie Klautz of Oegstgeest, Holland. What stands out about Sophie are her technical and tactical abilities on every line of the field. Sophie is a dynamic midfielder and goal scorer in the Dutch youth club system while playing a side defender and center forward for the Dutch U18 National Team. Sophie is one of the most powerful hockey players I've ever evaluated both on and off the ball. Sophie has that Maryland Hockey style - fast, exciting, bold and firey."
Klautz on Maryland: "I decided to come to Maryland for its reputation both in academics and in sports. I was impressed by the opportunities from the University of Maryland."
JUANA LASKOWSKI
Midfield
Buenos Aires, Argentina ● United High School
About Laskowski: Started playing for Club Nautico Hacoaj when she was 6… was named Player of the Year three times while she was there through 2017… beginning in 2018, she moved to Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires and played in the team A D1 in the Metropolitan Tournament of Buenos Aires… played in the US with Key Biscayne Field Hockey in 2018, 2019, 2020 in the Disney Field Hockey Showcase and the Winter Escape in 2020… also played in the Hockey Club of Amsterdam, Netherlands as part of the Sport Ways hockey camp 2019.
Meharg on Laskowski: "Welcome Juana Laskowski of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Juana possesses traditional Argentinian hands and the head of hockey greats. Her skills of eliminating, receiving under pressure and back tackling drew our interests. Playing within the field hockey village of Key Biscayne Hockey Club brought Juana to our attention. Juana is a pure student on and off the field and will start her academic curriculum at the end of the month in College Park."
Laskowski on Maryland: "I decided to come to Maryland because of the great field hockey team, great coaches and players. I am passionate about giving my all, both on the pitch and in my studies, and I know here I am going to make it. I feel prepared to live this experience out of my country."
ERICKA MORRIS-ADAMS
Defense/Midfield
Cheshire, England ● The Grange
About Morris-Adams: Played for the Bowdon-Highton club for six years… named player of the year for school and her club… named player of the tournament (Futures)... participated in an Elite Performance Programme at her school… school were County Champions and Regional Indoor Champions… school sports captain and school hockey team captain… team was U18 Indoor National Finalists, U18 National Champion… selected to play for club (Bowdon Hightown) 1st team (Premier league) at age 15.
Meharg on Morris-Adams: "Welcome Ericka Morris-Adams of Cheshire, England. Ericka is a mature national and global hockey player. Ericka is referred to as the 'Bull dog and workhorse' for her presence and fearless attitude. Competing in the English Premier League (Bowdon Hightown) since age 15, Ericka is known for being calm and collective in pressure situations. These attributes led to her selection as Captain of the U18 English National Team."
Morris-Adams on Maryland: "I decided to come to Maryland because of the coaching staff, hockey team's record and Maryland's reputation as a University."
AVA TREXLER
Defense/Midfield
Pittsgrove, N.J. ● Schalick High School
About Trexler: Played four years of varsity hockey… team was Sectional Finalist, two-time Division Champs... earned Second Team All Conference honors and First Team All Conference three times… earned First Team All-State Group 1 honors once and Second Team All-State Group 1 honors once as well… First Team All South Jersey… three-time team captain… played for Uprise Field Hockey… team were two-time JPOL Champions, two-time NIT Pool Champions, two-time Shooting Star Champs and took fourth in the National Club Championship.
Meharg on Trexler: "Welcome Ava Trexler of Pittsgrove, N.J. As a prominent student athlete with Uprise Field Hockey under former Terp coach Kristina Foster, we are excited about Ava's potential. Ava thrives on marking and denying key opposition to the ball. She is tenacious, she is quick and takes her defensive 1v1 role personally. Her acceleration after intercepting excited our coaching staff."
Trexler on Maryland: "I decided to go to Maryland because of the team spirit that thrives off of hard work and dedication. It has everything I am looking for on the field, in the classroom, and everywhere in between."
-TERPS-
