Maddie Schultz has committed to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the United Kingdom, where she will play soccer for Macclesfield Football Club (Macclesfield FC) while studying exercise science.
Schultz has been a goalie since she was five years old, and from that time she always dreamed of a long soccer career. Growing up, she played club soccer for the Medford Strikers and has recently been a goalie for Players Development Academy. The longevity Schultz wants to achieve with her soccer career was a compelling factor in deciding to go overseas for college. Since most collegiate athletes in America stop playing their sport after their college career, Schultz knew she wanted to find a program that offered something different.
“If I stayed in America, I feel like I would play the four years of college, and I would be done, but going over there, I know I can keep playing after. There is so much opportunity over there,” said Schultz.
After tearing her ACL in eighth grade, Schultz returned to the game more resilient and determined to follow the playing opportunities. It was not an easy road back to full strength, but she focused on achieving her long-term goal – to play the sport she loved again at a high level. The months of intense rehabilitation and physical therapy made Schultz even more appreciative of the game.
“I think having a whole year away from [soccer] just made me miss it so much … I am just not going to take it for granted, so I think it just made me want to play more,” said Schultz.
After training with the Macclesfield FC team this past July, Schultz knew that UCLan was the right college for her. The combined opportunity to study and play soccer instantly felt like a good fit. After speaking with a friend who had completed a similar summer program, she connected with recruiters, and all the parts began to come together.
While studying at UCLan, Schultz will play for Macclesfield FC, which partners with the university. The team has a program that recruits athletes from the U.S. to play for their team while completing their education. There are two women’s first-team placement opportunities for Macclesfield FC, a semi-pro team and an international team. Schultz is guaranteed a spot on the international team roster but also expects opportunities to play on the semi-pro team, which is typical for international team players. Schultz is excited about the team and the university, and the arrangement aligns perfectly with her goals.
“That environment, why would you not want to do that for the rest of your life if you could? It’s just awesome,” said Schultz.
By being a goalie, Schultz has always stepped up as a leader on the team. She knows how to get the team motivated and when to calm them down. By seeing the whole field, Schultz utilizes her voice and communicates with her team. She thinks it will be exciting to train with and learn from people from different backgrounds and feels confident that her years of playing experience have prepared her to succeed in a new environment.
“As a goalie, you are kind of a second coach. So being a leader, I learned how to talk to people and bring people together,” said Schultz.
Schultz’s family has been her biggest supporter and has always allowed her to follow her dreams. The fact that they were not overbearing about soccer helped her persevere without experiencing burnout. While the whole family feels the expected emotions about her moving across the pond, they are proud of her and excited to watch her live out her dream.
Since soccer is the top sport in England, Schultz knows she will feel right at home playing there. Not only will Schultz be spending her time playing soccer and studying, but she will also get to experience new cultures and travel from her new home base in Europe.
“Being over there opens up the whole world,” said Schultz.