An Olympic Experience

At the end of her senior campaign with Maryland Field Hockey, Emma DeBerdine left the program unsure of her road ahead. 

The midfielder had accomplished so much in her four years as a Terp. She earned multiple National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American, NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region Team and First Team All-Big Ten honors. She even played in the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Final Fours.  

DeBerdine had another year of NCAA eligibility to compensate for the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season. But when the opportunity to compete professionally for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics came up, she began training for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native made the final roster alongside three other former Terps, including her older sister, Brooke. After making her mark in Paris, DeBerdine found a path forward and a greater sense of closure on her college field hockey career. She returned to College Park for her fifth year playing under Head Coach Missy Meharg as a graduate student studying management. 

Through 14 games with the Terps this season, DeBerdine has picked up right where she left off. Her four assists rank tied for the team's lead. 

“I kind of got the best of both worlds,” DeBerdine said. “I got to go to the Olympics, and I also got to come back and finish my time at Maryland. Everything just came full circle.”

DeBerdine graduated in spring 2022 and spent the next two years training for international competition with the United States women’s national field hockey team. The U.S. team qualified in January 2024 and went on to play in Paris over the summer. DeBerdine played midfielder at the Paris Olympics. 

Team USA finished No. 9 worldwide in Paris, making its first Olympic appearance since 2016 Rio. They also closed out participation with a 1-0 win against South Africa. 

Meharg, Maryland Field Hockey’s Hall of Fame Coach, coached 11 players who have gone on to make Olympic rosters. She was also an assistant coach for the U.S. national team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Coach Meharg is very familiar with the differences in play between the Olympics and the NCAA. She identified pacing as a significant distinction and considered how it affects DeBerdine’s return to the Terps. 

“[Team USA is] preparing over 12 months for something that happens in 14 days, which I think for the sake of Emma and for the sake of our team, we're trying to keep it very slow,” Meharg said. “I remember back in 1996, and I've also had other athletes say after the Olympic experience from around the world, you have to take it slow, but it's got to be intense and keep the expectation and environment at an even pace.”

Maryland field hockey assistant coach Scott Tupper brings his own Olympics experience to the Terps as a three-time Olympian with Team Canada (Beijing 2008, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020). Coach Tupper outlined the mindset shift that Olympic athletes like DeBerdine often face after the games. 

“The Olympic year is intense, and whether you're transitioning back to college or work, it's a big change from being solely focused on your years-long goal of competing on the world's biggest stage,” Tupper said. “The biggest thing is just being a supportive ear as she goes through the transition.”

Coach Tupper and Coach Meharg have and continue to support DeBerdine’s transition from Team USA to Maryland. They recognized it as a legitimate challenge, although others may think otherwise. 

“From where I sit, it's about leadership,” Meharg said. “When you have someone who comes back from playing professional field hockey for 14 months, she's used to playing with the same people for so long. That's our challenge as a coach, to make sure that we have the consistency of training methods and connections.” 

Tupper added a similar take. “It's normal to feel a little odd, and that's fine. She knows we support her and are so happy to have her back at Maryland.”

DeBerdine has embraced the challenge of adjusting back to collegiate field hockey. She’s excited to continue bringing her Olympic experience back to her team. 

“Being able to lead in a different way that I wasn't able to before when I was here is really valuable to me,” DeBerdine said. “I feel like I have more knowledge of the game and strategies behind it.”

This season is DeBerdine’s fifth and final one with the Terps. She expressed high hopes for the Terps and the conclusion of her Maryland field hockey career. 

“Being able to play together and not go individually, like I've seen in the past, is very threatening,” DeBerdine said. “I’m very excited for this team.”