Leading The Way

Facing unprecedented times and a push towards a "new normal" in college sports, the path for student-athletes who began their playing careers in 2020 has been unlike any other. 

While many switched schools, catalyzed by the NCAA transfer portal and the rise of NIL, eight Maryland women's lacrosse players opted to see it through for all five years of their eligibility. For this special group, the choice to complete their careers in a Terp uniform was never a question.

Fifth-year student-athletes Shaylan Ahearn, Victoria Hensh, Brianna Lamoureux, Hannah Leubecker, Libby May, Aiden Peduzzi, Katie Sites, and Emily Sterling all entered Maryland's storied women's lacrosse program during the 2019-2020 school year and will leave together following the 2024 season. Across that period, the Terps have gone 47-19 (16-7 B1G), racking up a Big Ten title, three straight Big Ten championship game appearances, and consecutive NCAA tournament bids, including a 2022 Final Four appearance.

Retaining this group of players for all five years wasn't a concern for Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Cathy Reese.  

"These guys chose to be at Maryland, they want to be here, they want to win," said Reese. "They want to be a part of the tradition in the history of this program, and they want to create their own legacy. They're doing that, every single one of them contributes in their own unique way."

Understanding these players' Maryland lacrosse journeys requires a nine-year flashback to when their college recruitment process began.

"Our class committed when we were freshmen in high school," said goalkeeper Emily Sterling. "It was those four years plus these five years, so we've known each other for the past decade."

"We've been having hangouts and sleepovers and have known each other literally since we were like 12-13 years old," added midfielder Shaylan Ahearn. "[It's been] awesome to kind of grow up with one another."

Coach Reese recalled memories from the recruiting class following Maryland's 2019 national title run.

"When they were in high school, they were all really special players," said Reese. "We graduated a lot of players from the 2019 national championship team, so we knew these guys would have to come in and learn quickly as freshmen to be the future of Maryland."

Excluding Lamoureux, every fifth year is a Maryland native. Those who grew up in the state as elite high school lacrosse prospects knew the Terps' lacrosse team and its winning ways.

"Growing up in the state of Maryland, Maryland women's lacrosse is always kind of what you're aspiring to be and the team you want to root for," said Ahearn. "I grew up watching the Maryland and North Carolina lacrosse rivalry, so you were either a Terp or a Tar Heel. I was definitely a Terp."

Beyond their local allegiance, the Maryland program with Reese at the helm stood above any other school and coach that recruited them.

"When I stepped foot on campus to visit, I immediately just felt that sense of family that I didn't feel anywhere else," said attacker Libby May. "Maryland is one of those programs that really retains a lot of their players. Everyone that plays at Maryland has the best experience."

"Cathy really cares about people, she cares about her players off the field as well," said Sterling. "The culture that our coaches have, and the coaches before them had, set the standard of being each other's family, being each other's sisters and each other's biggest supporters. I really don't think it's on the level that it is [here] anywhere else in the country."

The COVID-19 pandemic cut the fifth year's 2020 freshman season short after only six games and limited their 2021 season to conference-only matchups during the regular season. As a result, it took longer for the class to get meaningful game reps and work as an in-person team. These Terps and Coach Reese had a lot to say about the impact of the pandemic on the group's playing careers.

"Our experience here has been different from every other class before us because of COVID," said attacker Hannah Leubecker. "During COVID, it was hard to spend time together and that translated onto the field. Since then, we've really prioritized spending time together as a team."

"It's hard when you have a whole group of freshmen that are thrown in and you don't have the opportunity to have a normal season," said Reese. "[This group's] normal has been different from what I think most people would consider normal. But as we have progressed, these guys have grown together, they've grown individually."

The growth Reese describes was the group's most significant takeaway from the team's pandemic years. All the players talked about how the unprecedented circumstances ultimately brought them closer together, which translated to greater synergy on the field.

"We went through really tough times together. I think that brought us closer, and I think that's something that our class shares," said May. "I think every year, no matter the challenge, we know that we can fall back on that trust, that friendship, no matter the circumstance. When one of my best friends does something amazing on the field, I get such a sense of pride, joy, and excitement, and it's a feeling that you just want to keep coming back to." 

Since the return of a full spring lacrosse schedule in 2022, the group's junior year, the Terps have thrived, earning several individual accolades in addition to their team accomplishments. May, a Second Team All-Big Ten player in 2022 and 2023, highlighted the excitement of making the 2022 Final Four after the Covid years.

"Competing in the Final Four was such a surreal experience," said May. "You have all of your friends and family there because we played it at Homewood Field at Johns Hopkins. So we were representing our state. That was definitely such a special moment."

At 3-1, with a ranked win over No. 5 Syracuse and their only loss coming in a 12-13 overtime heartbreaker against No. 16 Florida, this year's team is showing early signs of success, keyed by its fifth-year leaders.

"They have another opportunity this year to give it one last go," said Reese. "These guys, they're passionate about each other, they love their team, they love their school and their program. Everyone's willing to do whatever it takes for the good of the team."

Ahearn, the 2023 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and 2023 First Team All-Big Ten player, explained how her Maryland lacrosse experience led her to become a more mature team leader and left her facing a harder goodbye.

"What I came in doing isn't necessarily what I'm ending up doing. But it's because we've put the puzzle pieces together to make a great team instead of good individual players," said Ahearn. "Whether it's at a game or practice, I hope to enjoy the people that I'm surrounded by because when you get out into the real world, it's very rare to have a group of 35 best friends living every single day together. And I know that's something that I'm going to miss a lot."

Coach Reese gave a final word about her exceptional group of fifth years and her positive aspirations for the rest of the 2024 season.

"These guys are going to lead the way every step of the way," said Reese. "Their passion and love for the University of Maryland will show on the field for sure."