Maryland women’s soccer hit rock bottom in 2024 before head coach Michael Marchiano was put in charge midseason. In Marchiano’s first full year leading the program, there were plenty of signs of improvement. But the Terps still have a long road ahead in 2026.
Back-to-back conference wins against Indiana and Purdue were the apex of Maryland’s 2025 success as it won multiple conference games for just the second time since 2019. In close losses and draws, its stout defense was what kept the competition within reach.
Now, the Terps look to build off the flashes of potential and continue their hopeful rise from the bottom of the Big Ten.
Key losses
After showing some signs of improvement in 2025, multiple key pieces from that team will not be returning.
The most notable loss will be former captain and leading scorer Kelsey Smith, who transferred to Florida for her final season of eligibility. Smith scored six goals and was the focal point of the Terps’ offense on the left wing.
Maryland will also lose its other double-digit point producer from last year with the departure of Ava Morales. Between Smith and Morales, the Terps lose over half of their goalscoring production from 2025.
The offense won’t be the only place where Maryland will have its hands full replacing production, with top defenders Alyssa Abramson and Tahirah Turnage-Morales also departing. The duo led all non-goalkeepers in minutes played last season, combining for 3,001 total minutes.
Top returners
While Maryland struggled on the field last season, some key returns could still make big impacts this upcoming campaign.
Having scored three times in just seven starts, Gemma Davitian will be the top returning goalscorer for the Terps.
Forward Mckinley Heaven was just a freshman in 2025, but after scoring two game-winning goals in conference play, the now-sophomore was named a Big Ten player to watch for 2026.
Heaven was joined by two other Terps in earning that distinction: goalkeeper Faith Luckey and forward/midfielder Lisa McIntyre.
Luckey returns after starting every game between the pipes, making 88 total saves with a 76.5% save percentage. The redshirt junior ended the season strong, finishing with a clean sheet in an excellent performance against Rutgers.
McIntyre was supposed to provide a level of stability in 2026, having tallied seven points and started every game last season. However, in a recent exhibition game against Temple, she seemingly suffered an injury, and her status is currently unknown. If the senior were to miss time, the Terps would need some different players to step up in order to fill the gap in production.
New additions
Marchiano’s team needed an infusion of talent, which will be provided by 12 new players on the roster. Maryland welcomed seven high school recruits while adding five transfers.
Headlining the 2026 recruiting class is the 2025-26 South Carolina Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Ella Petry. Petry has a laundry list of high school honors, including representing the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.
Along with Petry, the Terps added six more players with three-star ratings, according to Top Drawer Soccer.
Daryn Barnes, Morgan Shannon, Elysa Greco, Greyson Tischer, Kamryn Cole and Paige Foye round out a solid recruiting class that will add more young talent to the program.
Maryland targeted youth in the transfer portal, with each incoming transfer classed as a sophomore this season.
Attacking midfielder Lilly Bane will likely make the most impact right away, transferring in after a strong freshman season at Purdue. Bane scored twice while adding an assist for the Boilermakers and appeared in every single contest.
Midfielder Ary Oliver and defender Ava Paolini will also make interesting additions to the Terps’ roster. Oliver earned second-team all-conference honors this past season with Radford, scoring one goal and assisting twice in 14 games.
Paolini will be the biggest wildcard of the portal group, having not played this past season at Florida due to injury. The former top- 100 recruit could provide value to the Terps’ backline if she can return to the form that made her a prized recruit.
Transfer forwards Jolie Farmer and Abigail Stager have combined for just over 400 minutes of collegiate action between them, joining the Terps after playing for Penn State and Kentucky, respectively. Stager has one career goal with the Wildcats, while Farmer has yet to score a collegiate point.
Looking ahead
Maryland enters the 2026 season without much expectation, having been voted to finish 17th in the Big Ten’s preseason poll.
The Terps open with a favorable out-of-conference slate, kicking off by hosting Fordham at Ludwig Field on Sunday.
Home crowds and limited travel will provide an advantage early on. Maryland only has to leave the state of Maryland once before conference play begins, traveling to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech Aug. 23.
Big Ten play will be where the biggest challenges lie, and the first will be one of the toughest. The Terps open with No. 12 Washington and will face two more preseason-ranked opponents, taking on No. 22 Wisconsin along with No. 7 Michigan State.
Maryland will conclude its regular season with a road matchup against Rutgers on Oct. 30.