Impact Of A Scholarship: Danielle [Hubka] Ladd

Throughout Danielle Ladd’s childhood, others doubted her abilities as a soccer athlete. Despite the misbelief that surrounded her, she became a student-athlete at the University of Maryland and played a significant role in elevating their women’s soccer program. 

Known by her maiden name, Hubka, she and the Terps made the NCAA Tournament yearly under coaches Brian Pensky and Jonathan Morgan from 2009-12. As a midfielder, Ladd dreamed of playing soccer as a student-athlete in the ACC. Her abilities and a scholarship helped make her dream a reality.  

“The scholarship meant the world to me,” Ladd said. “I needed the funds to go to school, and to know that my coaches and others saw that much promise in me as an individual and recruited me and welcomed me in, it meant the world to know that everything you've been working for your whole life is getting recognized.”

Ladd, a native of Ohio, tried out for a local soccer team for the first time and was placed on a second team. 

“I'm very competitive, so I was very unhappy,” Ladd said. “I think that was always part of me. I've always had a chip on my shoulder. When I started playing soccer, I was a defender, and people kept telling me I couldn't play a forward or center midfield position. I always pushed for that, and eventually, I became that on my club team.”  

Ladd played club for Cleveland Internationals and was a four-year starter and letter-winner at Strongsville High School. She racked up many accolades, including being named an ESPN RISE and NSCAA/Adidas All-American and Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio Division I and All-Greater Cleveland Player of the Year. Still, people didn’t think she could play in college in the ACC, commonly debated as the most competitive conference. 

Ladd was also told she couldn't qualify for a United States regional team. However, she accomplished both while skipping the regional team and being placed on the U.S. U18 national team.

Choosing Maryland over Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, Ladd became a Terp because she felt their soccer program aligned with her characterization as an underdog. 

“Brian Pensky was our head coach, and he was building something special,” Ladd said. “We weren't necessarily front runners when I was recruited, and I wanted to be a part of something like that. … That's a huge part of why I picked the program.”

In 2009, Ladd was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team as the Terps made a run to the NCAA Sweet 16. No. 4 seeded Maryland hosted Monmouth and Washington State in the first two rounds at Ludwig Field and defeated them by a combined score of 5-0. 

The following year, the Terps made a run to the ACC tournament championship game, and Ladd was named part of the All-Tournament Team. She scored 55 seconds into overtime, allowing No. 2 seed Maryland to take down No. 6 Boston College and advance to its first ACC title game since 1997. The 2010 team finished 18-2-3 overall for an 84.78 winning percentage, which remains the highest single-season winning percentage in program history.

In 2011, Maryland made it back to the NCAA Sweet 16, and in 2012, Ladd’s senior season, the Terrapins returned to the ACC championship. Ladd was a team captain of the 2012 team. 

Ladd played in 11 NCAA Tournament games for Maryland, the most of any player in program history. She’s also tied for 19th in career points scored (42), tied for 16th in career goals scored (17) and tied for 7th in game-winning goals (8). 

“It's such an accomplishment [attending Maryland], and I am thankful that such programs exist, invest and believe in you,” Ladd said. “It gives you that confidence when you get to school and to try to produce your four years.”

Despite all the success, Ladd’s favorite memories revolved around preseason and the excitement leading up to the regular season. 

“I love the idea of coming in and getting a fresh start to the season,” Ladd said. “The new gear, being reunited with your second family. You've been apart all summer, and you're coming back together, and that really is your second family away from home.”

Ladd earned her Bachelor of Science while studying kinesiology and exercise science off the field. She started her own business — Danielle Hubka's Soccer School — and coached male and female soccer players from 9-19 years old. She also helped mentor high school student-athletes and parents through their collegiate recruiting process. 

Ladd returned to school in 2016 and later earned her master’s in occupational therapy. She’s worked in various occupational therapy roles but has worked with FOX Rehabilitation since 2022. 

“It's hard to put into words how much Maryland gave to me in terms of giving me my athletic career but also giving me a wonderful education that set me up for my master's,” Ladd said. “The network of people you meet and the support you get even when you graduate is amazing.”

Ladd and her husband, Skyler, have a two-year-old daughter, Harper, and a two-month-old son, Colton.