Work Samples

Michelle Lane

October 10, 2008

By David Driver
For the Stafford County Sun
Used with permission

Michelle Lane made several trips to the University of Maryland as a youngster, and she attended a field hockey camp at the school when she was in high school at Colonial Forge.

So there really was no choice to be made when the Stafford resident was looking for a college.

“For me Maryland was the top choice the entire time,” said Lane, a former field hockey standout at Colonial Forge. “Both of my parents attended the university.”

Lane is a freshman midfielder/back this season for the Terps, which won nine of their first 10 games before playing Oct. 4 at the University of Virginia.

“It has been an awesome transition for me. I am playing with some of the best coaches in the country,” said Lane, who added she has teammates from England and the Netherlands. “It has been amazing. I am learning so much. The difference from high school is the speed and communication.”

Lane began playing field hockey around fifth grade as she followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Melissa, who played the sport at Colonial Forge. Their younger sister, Maria, now plays on the junior varsity team at the school.

Their brother, Michael, is a junior at Mountain View High School and plays=2 0lacrosse and golf. Their father, Len, played soccer and ran track in high school and their mother, Debbie, was a cheerleader. Lane said her parents have been able to attend most of her games this season.

The Maryland freshman played in four of the first 10 games for the Terps. The team hosts Duke on Oct. 11. Maryland was ranked No. 3 in the country when it beat Richmond 7-0 at home in late September in a game where Lane came off the bench.

How does Lane feel about her playing time?

“I have been happy. I have had solid minutes in some key games. It is such a good program,” said Lane, who is undecided on a major field of study.

The Maryland head coach is Missy Meharg, a 1985 graduate of the University of Delaware. Meharg is in her 21st season in College Park. She has led the Terps to five national titles and has been named the national coach of the year six times.

“She is serious when she needs to be,” Lane said. “We know what we need to do.”

Maryland began the season with straight wins before losing at home 2-1 to Syracuse.

Will that game serve as a wakeup call for the Terps?

“For a team like Maryland, we know people want to beat us,” Lane said. “We work so hard every day. We are always working hard to correct any errors we may have made.”