Members of USWNT Highlight Fun-filled Summer in Boyds
(Boyds, MD) — Nestled between the bustling I-270 corridor and the rushing waters of the Potomac River, there is a place where the sports stars of today and tomorrow shine. It’s not quite a cornfield in Iowa, but if there were a Maryland equivalent to Ray Kinsella’s “Field of Dreams”, it just might be the Maryland SoccerPlex & Discovery Sports Center in the town of Boyds in Montgomery County.
Home to more than 20 soccer fields, with synthetic turf fields complemented by Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass natural surfaces, the complex also includes natural and paved walking trails with picturesque streams and ample green space. In addition to the outdoor sports fields and trails, the campus houses the Discovery Sports Center, a 46,000 square foot arena which has basketball and volleyball courts most of the year. In the winter, a synthetic turf field is laid out, allowing for indoor soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball and rugby. The venue has the capability to host conferences, parties and camps year-round.
The Maryland Soccer Foundation, Inc. manages the Maryland SoccerPlex, Discovery Sports Center, SAM Soccer and a handful of indoor and outdoor tournaments. In 1999, the Montgomery County Planning Board outlined a proposal to build a $19 million dollar soccer complex near Germantown. According to their website, an initiative between the Maryland Soccer Foundation and the MNCPPC was the first public-private partnership in Montgomery County dedicated to creating the largest, premier recreational facility in the D.C. suburbs of Maryland.
“The Maryland SoccerPlex and Discovery Sports Center are state-of-the-art facilities which offer so much to the region in terms of their ability to host and attract sports organizations and sports tourism,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of Maryland Sports. “Having a facility like this allows the state of Maryland to remain competitive when it comes to recruiting new events to the state, especially as we make the pitch to national and international organizations.”
Extra attention will be given to the complex in Boyds this week as the Maryland SoccerPlex is also the home of the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Officials are expecting an influx of fans to come out to support U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team stars Mallory Pugh and Bronze Ball winner Rose Lavelle, as they return to action for the Spirit this summer. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Lavelle is expected to miss some upcoming games due to a lingering injury sustained during World Cup play.
“We’re excited to welcome home Rose and Mallory from the World Cup Winning U.S. Women’s National Team” said Matt Libber, Executive Director of the Maryland SoccerPlex and Maryland Soccer Foundation. “While the rest of the country and world may have just learned about the incredibly skilled players like Rose and Mallory, here at the Maryland SoccerPlex, we have been watching them advance women’s soccer everyday this season with the Washington Spirit.”
Fans from across the state will have plenty of opportunities to cheer on their favorite members of the USWNT the rest of the season. The Spirit will host goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Julie Ertz of the Chicago Stars later this summer. Their next match against the Houston Dash on Friday July 20th will feature a number of international players, including Rachely Daly of The England Women’s Senior Football Team. The Spirit will also host Alex Morgan and the Orlando Pride as well as Golden Boot Winner, Megan Rapinoe and Reign F.C. However, soccer fans will have to travel into the District for those matches at Audi Field.
“The members of the USWNT are undoubtedly the most popular athletes in sports right now, not just here in the U.S., but across the globe,” said Hasseltine adding, “The fact that Marylanders can make a short trip to Montgomery County to see the Rose Lavelle’s, Mallory Pugh’s and the other stars of the international game shows just how lucky we are to have a facility like the Maryland SoccerPlex so close to us. We hope we can keep that momentum going as Maryland Sports works to secure future national and international soccer events here in the state.”
Baltimore is currently one of a number of potential host cities for the FIFA 2026 World Cup™. As part of the Maryland Sports bid, the Maryland SoccerPlex is listed as a potential training site for participating nation’s teams.
For more information about the Maryland SoccerPlex & Discovery Sports Center visit:
For more information about the Washington Spirit, including their upcoming schedule, visit:
About Maryland Sports:
The mission of Maryland’s Sports Commission is to enhance Maryland’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, retention and development of regional, national and international sporting events.
Photo Credits: @MDSoccerPlex, Instagram & @washingtonspirit, Instagram
