Building On A Legacy

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, Stefan Copetti was surrounded by Maryland soccer from an early age. His house was packed with old Terp memorabilia and photos, put in, of course, by his father, Jack Copetti.  

Jack was a standout soccer player at Maryland from 1985-1988 who earned three first-team All-ACC selections in College Park. After graduation, he played for the North York Rockets of the Canadian Soccer League (1991-92) and the Toronto Rockets of the American Professional Soccer League (1994).

“Pretty much everywhere around the house there were always a ton of picture frames from his time at Maryland,” Stefan said. “He was a defender, so there were definitely a lot of pictures of him making slide tackles. And there were article clippings of him making All-ACC First Team and things like that.”

Jack loved telling stories about his days as a Terp to his two sons, hoping to inspire them on their own journeys, and his sons loved hearing them. 

“We were always sharing stories, always talking about my time at Maryland,” Jack said. “I tried to use those memories and those experiences to help both my boys grow as young soccer players.”

Jack’s legacy inspired a young Stefan as he dreamed of playing college ball in the United States—with College Park as his prized destination. 

“From a young age I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and take the road of playing in the United States because it was the best of the best, and it was a way to get my degree while still playing.”

“Maryland was kind of always on my radar because of my dad,” he added.

And it wasn’t just the Copetti family that loved to talk about the Maryland soccer lore in Canada. Stefan can clearly recall the buzz in Toronto the program carried, especially in 2018 when the Terps won the National Championship. 

That buzz grew even more when Stefan’s Vaughan Soccer Club teammate and former Maryland star Malcolm Johnston was getting recruited to Maryland and eventually committed.

“When we heard Malcom committed to Maryland, we were all so excited for him because it’s a top-three program of all-time,” Stefan said. “Everyone wants to play at Maryland. It’s not just kids in the US, the Canadians who are striving to play college soccer always have Maryland in their list of dream schools.”

Unfortunately, the Maryland roster was pretty much set when it was Stefan’s time to be recruited. As a result, he attended Marist College, where he starred for the Red Foxes for two seasons, with the 2020 season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Obviously, I was a little disappointed that it didn’t work out the first time around with Maryland, but I knew that Marist was going to be a great place for me to play where I could grow as a player,” Stefan said.

Sure enough, Stefan took major strides during his time at Marist, earning first-team All-MAAC honors and United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors in 2021 as well as helping the Red Foxes capture the MAAC regular season and tournament titles.

But after three years at Marist, Stefan felt it was time for a change—and an opportunity to really challenge himself on the soccer pitch. 

As a result, he entered the transfer portal and was quickly contacted by head coach Sasho Cirovski. Stefan also spent a lot of time doing his own research and talking to Johnston, who he would have an opportunity of reuniting with for a year in a Maryland uniform.  

Of course, he consulted Jack a lot during the process, but his father was sure to never sway him one way or the other.

“I leaned on him for advice, but the thing he would always say to me was, ‘Don’t go there because I went there, go to a school that you think is the best fit for you.’”

In the end, the conversations he had and the tangible evidence of the program’s several championships and professional players made the choice an easy one.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” Stefan said. “It came down to three (schools), but I knew in my mind it was always Maryland ever since Sash gave me that first call.”

When the Copetti family first heard the news they erupted in excitement—no one more so than Jack. 

“He was almost speechless, definitely a little emotional,” Stefan recalled of his father. “My dad was just really proud. He would have been happy for me with whatever decision I made, but he was definitely a little extra happy with me coming to Maryland and so was my entire family.”

“I still remember that conversation like it was yesterday,” Jack recalled. “He told me he was picking Maryland because he knew that everything he got at Maryland, he was going to have to earn and work for. That was really cool for me to hear as a dad.”

When it was time for Stefan to move to College Park officially, Jack and his wife, Emiliana, went down to help, stirring up a lot of fond memories for Jack as well as creating new ones when it really sunk in that his son was going to be a Maryland Terrapin.

“When we walked the campus for the first time, it was like I was walking in my own footsteps,” Jack said. “We showed Stefan Talbot Hall, where I stayed for my first three years, and the room I lived in. It was a walk in my past.”

“I get chills just thinking about it; I get goosebumps on my arm,” he added. “It’s just a really proud and heartwarming feeling to have him walk in the same footsteps that I did and for him to be part of such a tremendous program that Sash has developed over the years.”

Then began all the firsts for the younger Copetti—the things he had always dreamed of. 

“When I got that jersey for my first media day with my number and last name on the back, man, it was just a lot of smiles,” Stefan said. “It felt surreal. And it just continued to be smiles while playing my first game, scoring my first goal, and winning the Big Ten Championship and scoring that winning goal.”

The Copetti family was by his side the whole way. 

“For the Copetti family, to have Stef come here for a couple of years, get his degree at Maryland and have a major impact on our program, it’s incredible,” Cirovski said. “I know Jack and his wife have gone above and beyond to show their gratitude that Stef was able to come and have this Maryland experience.”

His first goal in a Maryland uniform came at Michigan, a goal that proved to be the game-winner. Fittingly, both his parents as well as his two grandparents and Jack’s former Maryland teammate and star on the pitch Dom Macina were there to celebrate with him.

“My dad was always so supportive of my soccer dreams going up, so to have him and my mom there to see Stefan score his first goal, that was really special,” an emotional Jack recalled. “It’s hard to put into words what that moment was like and what it meant.”

A little over a month later Stefan played the hero yet again. With the Terps down 1-0 against Indiana in the final regular season game of the season, he broke through in the 87th minute, clinching the outright Big Ten Regular Season championship for the Terps in dramatic fashion.

Once again, his parents were there to join in the big moment with him.

“Talk about storybook,” Jack said. “You can’t write a script any better than that.”

Now, in his final season at Maryland, Stefan is making sure to take in his final moments in College Park. 

Recently, that was highlighted by a big performance on Senior Night. Coming off a tough stretch of games where he was unable to find the back of the net, Stefan found himself in a prime opportunity against Bowling Green. He took a nice touch, outsprinted his defender and fired a hard-hit strike past the Bowling Green goalkeeper in the 38th minute in what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Once again, his family was there for his big moment, sitting just about 10 yards away, in perfect sight of their son’s massive goal—the first goal they were able to witness their son score at Ludwig Field. 

“There was so much emotion,” Jack said. “We just jumped up and screamed and shouted. I was sitting beside a former teammate Rich Labonski and we gave each other a hug and high-faves. It was an extremely proud moment.”

“To walk out with them on Senior Night and then give them a big hug after the game, that was a great feeling,” Stefan added. “It was so special to do that on my Senior Night and secure us the win.”

And though Stefan is only able to play two seasons as a Terp, the influences he’s had on the program is tangible.

“He’s been an outstanding player but also an outstanding representative of our program,” Cirovski said. “He’s totally invested, he’s become a very good leader, and he’s had just a terrific impact on our program.”

With a few games left to play in the regular season and the Terps fighting for their postseason chances, he says he has more to prove. 

“I want to help this team make a run, it’s something that’s really important to me,” Coppetti said. 

“I’m building on that Copetti legacy and I’m really proud.”