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South County Grad Faces New Challenges at UMD

South County grad Alex Reed finds happiness while competing for playing time with the University of Maryland women's soccer tea

Sometimes good enough just isn't good enough. That's what Fairfax Station native Alex Reed thought after her first season of collegiate soccer at Loyola University.

"I originally went to Loyola because my brother is there and we are really close" the South County grad said. "My grandfather played baseball there. I have a lot of family in Baltimore and I knew I was going to play right away. It really felt like it was going to be a perfect fit. I thought I would thrive in an environment where the school wasn't so big, so it would be an easy transition both school- and soccer-wise."

And it was. As a freshman, Reed started 18 games and played in all 20 for the Greyhounds last season. She scored the game-winner in a 1-0 overtime win over George Washington and was playing plenty of minutes. But she wanted to push herself, no matter the consequences.

This season, Reed is battling for playing time as a sophomore forward with the University of Maryland women's soccer team. The Terrapins play in one of the NCAA's toughest conferences and are currently ranked No. 11 in the nation.

But Reed's minutes have been limited. She has appeared in just five games and taken just five shots in 2011, a far cry from her playing time at Loyola.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

"The level of play is incredible. It's really fast and the practice time I get is way better than anything I've seen in my life. It's preparing me to play at this level because right now everyday I get the chance to play with some of the best in the country at practice," Reed says. "At Maryland it's big, strong girls. That's just how the ACC is."

"I was tired after that first practice."

Maryland coach Brian Pensky says the toughest challenge facing Reed is believing in herself and getting used to the aggressiveness it takes to find success at this level.

"She's adjusting well but it has taken her a little longer because Alex is just as sweet as it gets," Pensky says. "Alex came onto campus with a team that is a top ten team in the country that was returning a lot of starters and a lot of attacking players. We have a pretty competitive culture here and while Alex is a competitive player, she's walked into a team that is already formed."

"We've tried to impress upon her that it's OK to compete your tail off. It's OK to almost kick someone during training and believe in yourself because, in a competitive environment with players and against players who are very, very good, you need to assertive yourself."

Before her college days, Reed was a two-time all-state selection at South County and had a highly decorated club soccer career with the McLean Dragons. She was a member of three Virginia Cup state title teams and led the Dragons and the USYS National League in scoring in 2008 to 2009.

She says club is what helped her most in adjusting to the competition at Maryland.

"Club was the business end of soccer, where you know that college coaches are watching and you go to huge tournaments all across the country," Reed says.

Not just challenging herself on the field, Alex is looking to double major in family science and criminal justice, with her sights set on possibly being a guidance counselor for troubled children.

She also has a desire to get into coaching in the future. She enjoys watching her younger brother Brendan on the South County Secondary school boys soccer team and is looking forward to her sister Victoria following in her footsteps through the high school and club soccer scene.

"I'd love to graduate, come back home and work at a local high school. It'd be a lot of fun to coach my little sister," Reed says. "(Victoria) is starting the process of going to tournaments it's fun to relive it through her. Just seeing her and how happy she is makes it fun to watch."

As for now, she's focused on getting better everyday with eyes on a spot in the lineup next season. The Terrapins are graduating 11 seniors at the end of the season and Pensky says it's up to Reed to pursue the chance to get on the field again.

"We've told her to be the sweet Alex girl, be who you are that everyone loves, but when it's time to play, get after it and believe in yourself," Pensky said.

Reed appears eager to put in the hard work and is enjoying the challenge of playing at Maryland.

"I'm 1,000 percent happier. I feel like I'm becoming a better player without getting into games  because of practice,' Reed says. "I know you can't just assume to come in and expect to play at any level. Everyone has to work their way into the lineup. I know good things happen and I know it's going to take some time but I'm not going to stop working hard."

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