Maryland Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Autumn Welsh Kelly

As the saying goes, the best offense is a good defense. 

Autumn Welsh's defensive prowess undoubtedly keyed Maryland field hockey’s success. Led by Welsh Kelly, the Maryland back line was feared by offenses around the country and played a significant role in the team’s 1999 national championship title.  

Welsh Kelly is set to become the 18th Maryland field hockey alumna inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 18. Her induction will add to the program’s strong presence in the hall and earn her a place alongside other Terp legends. 

“My initial reaction was straight-up shock,” Welsh Kelly said. “To think about the success of Maryland field hockey … and the phenomenal athletes that have gone through that program, it feels so validating for all the hard work. It's an incredible honor.”

Welsh Kelly played for Maryland field hockey from 1998-2001, during one of the program’s most successful eras. During that period, the team posted a 73-14 record, captured four consecutive ACC titles, played in three national semifinals and won the 1999 NCAA championship. 

Welsh Kelly also accumulated many individual awards. She was the 1998 ACC Freshman of the Year and later named ACC Co-Player of the Year in 2001. The defender earned three consecutive All-ACC honors from 1999-2001 and was named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) First Team All-American in 2001. Finally, Welsh Kelly won the Honda Sports Award in 2001. 

Maryland’s Hall of Fame head coach, Missy Meharg, and Welsh Kelly’s former teammate, Kristy (Palchinsky) Dignan, praised the 2024 Hall of Fame inductee. 

“She’s so well deserving,” Meharg said. “Autumn was one of the fiercest defenders I've ever worked with. She loved the game and was an incredible leader. She’s a remarkable woman.”

Dignan shared a similar sentiment. “I’m so happy for her because of how much she grew coming to Maryland as a person and with the program. It is such an honor for her, especially as a defender. She always stayed authentic to who she was, and I think that speaks a lot to who she is. I could not be more proud.”

Welsh Kelly is originally from Macungie, Pennsylvania — a small town that’s a big field hockey hub in the Mid-Atlantic. She’s an alumna of Emmaus High School, known for its powerhouse women’s field hockey program. Coach Meharg described Welsh Kelly as someone coming from a field hockey pedigree. 

Welsh Kelly was part of the United States national field hockey youth program and spent multiple summers at the University of Maryland for tournaments. She had already stayed in the dorms, played on the fields and explored campus going into her college recruiting process. The collective made Maryland a more familiar destination than other schools. 

However, what truly pushed Welsh Kelly to commit to Maryland was the familial atmosphere of the Terps field hockey program. Welsh Kelly stayed with Terps field hockey legend Keli (Smith) Puzo for her official visit, who took her around campus and out to dinner at the College Park airport. Welsh Kelly fondly remembers touring the field hockey facility and meeting the other upperclassmen. 

“The vibe that I got from the team was [not only] a passion for competition but also very much a genuine concern for each other,” Welsh Kelly said, who was also drawn to the root of the positive culture — Coach Meharg. 

“I got the impression from Missy that she enjoyed me as a person, not just as a player,” Welsh Kelly continued. “I remember Missy playing Matchbox Cars with my five-year-old brother at the time, and it felt like it was about more than just choosing a school. It all clicked.”

Meharg shared one of her favorite memories from Welsh Kelly’s first season with the Terps. 

“Her freshman year, we went out to the golf course for a run, and the next thing somebody said was, ‘Autumn is under the tree crying,’” Meharg said. “I went over, and I sat under the tree with her, and I’m like, ‘ok, we're going to keep running.’ She was just like, ‘I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.’”

Meharg continued. “I remember that like it was yesterday. But what I remember on the other side, is that she was just a fierce leader. She led in every single training. Every step mattered.”

As Meharg described, Welsh Kelly eventually worked through those freshman jitters and found great on-field success. 

“Her ability to get to a ball before the opposition was unmatched,” Meharg explained. “She intercepted and countered, that was her thing. Her ability to lead through her central back positioning was just brilliant.”

Dignan explained what it was like to play alongside Welsh Kelly on defense. 

“She was just a very strong player that people didn't really expect,” Dignan said. “She just had this fire and very fluid style of play. She played behind me, so I knew if something got by me, she would most likely make it right on the field.”

Welsh Kelly’s biggest individual accolade was winning one of the highest honors in women’s collegiate sports — the Honda Sports Award. The annual award recognizes the “most outstanding player” in the 12 NCAA women’s sports. Welsh Kelly was the first-ever Honda award recipient in the history of Maryland field hockey, inspiring future Terps such as Paula Infante (‘06) and Katie O’Donnell Bam (‘10) to follow in her footsteps. 

Welsh Kelly reflected on receiving the Honda Award and what it meant to be recognized as a self-described low-key, defensive player. 

“I always considered myself a very simple player,” Welsh Kelly said. “I didn’t do anything flashy. What I brought is my heart and my love for my teammates. The fact that it got some recognition feels really, really great. It was such an honor to be considered among some of the most elite players in the field hockey world.”

One of Welsh Kelly’s favorite memories at Maryland was the team’s 1998 ACC tournament run. At the time, the Terps embodied an underdog mentality, which she used as fuel against tough competitors early in her career. 

“We were not at the top of the ACC, but we beat Virginia, we beat UNC, and in the ACC tournament, we went on to the final championship game and beat Virginia,” Welsh Kelly said. “At that time, nobody was beating Virginia. We were mostly a freshman and sophomore roster and just played for each other. My greatest memories are looking at each other on the field and knowing we're going to have fun, do the best we can and what will be, will be.”

Dignan remarked on Welsh Kelly’s inspiring presence and leadership within the team. 

“Before games during the entire [1999] national championship season, she’d sit and lead us through visualization exercises to get us all calm, focused and ready,” she said. “She was younger than me, but I always looked up to her, not because she was a captain or anything, but because of how she carried herself.”

Following her graduation from Maryland with a double degree in math and secondary education, Welsh Kelly played for the U.S. women’s national field hockey team and was part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2001 America's Cup. 

She then volunteered as an assistant coach with Maryland field hockey before getting hired as a math teacher in Montgomery County, Md.    

Welsh Kelly keeps in touch with many of her former Maryland teammates, even though most have started their own families. As their kids have gotten older, the group vowed to get together at least once a year, and they’ve stayed better connected since then. 

“Our kids know each other now and have each other’s numbers,” Welsh Kelly said. “They text and talk about each other's sports and stuff like that. It's been really important to all of us that we keep the memories that we have fresh.”

Welsh Kelly and her husband have six kids (three girls and three boys). Despite her best efforts to start a family field hockey tradition, all of her girls play soccer. But Welsh Kelly embraces her role as the after-school “taxi driver” and number one supporter of her multi-sport children.  

“I love my job as a high school math teacher and am grateful for the simple pleasures of watching my amazing and talented children shine in the activities they love,” Welsh Kelly said. “We play soccer, lacrosse, basketball, flag football, volleyball, baseball, wrestling and mountain biking. On most teams, we all wear number three.” 

The No. 3 worn by her children is a tribute to Welsh Kelly’s Hall of Fame career.