Maryland Field Hockey’s Ellie Goldstein and Leah Horwitz form the most Jewish team on campus. The two forwards are key contributors to a 6-3 team with sights on a deeper NCAA tournament run this year.

Goldstein, a sophomore, grew up as a Maryland fan because her family has roots in the state. She scored a state record-breaking 127 goals for Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut in an acclaimed field hockey career. That performance earned a spot in the Hartford Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Goldstein fondly remembered the achievement.

“I got it alongside my cousin, which was very special…It hasn’t really set in that, ‘Oh yeah, I’m in a Hall of Fame,’ until you just said it. I know it’s a thing, but no one’s ever really just said that to me before. That made it more real,” Goldstein said.

The awards continue to accumulate. Goldstein received a letter last week that the Jewish Sports Heritage Association named her the 2026 Michael Freedman Outstanding Jewish Female High School Athlete of the Year.

Goldstein has multiple superstitions before games. She eats a bagel from a hometown favorite spot. Her mother will bring more whenever she visits campus. to see Goldstein play. She has worn athletic socks with a Maryland state flag theme since middle school, ensuring their availability for every game.

“I do laundry just so they will be clean. Sometimes, I’ll just leave them out to dry, but that’s not very clean. I’ll find laundry or I’ll hand-wash them in the sink,” Goldstein said.

Horwitz, a senior currently nursing a hamstring strain, chose field hockey over her other high school sports, including lacrosse, soccer, swimming and track. She left the Carolinas to head north for Maryland. That move stood out among her high school classmates, who almost all stay in the South.

“I wanted a new experience. My grandma grew up in Severna Park, so I thought I would try Maryland out. I’ve always loved crabs. I came on my visit, and I just loved the team and the coaching staff. They made me feel at home, like family,” Horwitz said.

The senior targeted a school with a large Jewish population to provide a similar experience to her high school. Goldstein explained that it also influenced her final college decision.

“There were a lot of places that I would have been interested in for field hockey, but the school itself didn’t provide a substantial Jewish community. Coming here, knowing that there was a large Jewish population as well as huge Hillel and Chabad programs, it really drew me in,” Goldstein said.

The in-season schedule has limited their opportunities to engage on campus, but Goldstein and Horwitz hope to be more involved with Hillel and other groups in the spring. This year, the team will be on the road for Yom Kippur. The two will celebrate together, just as they did recently for Rosh Hashanah.

The team’s training schedule prevents Goldstein and Horwitz from fasting on the holiday. Horwitz explained that a previous attempt backfired.

“I tried to fast my freshman year and it didn’t go very well because we had practice late in the day. It’s super hard for your body to practice the best if you’re fasting. It’s definitely upsetting that I can’t really celebrate the holiday that way, but it’s probably best for my health,” Horwitz said.

Goldstein described Horwitz as her main mentor on campus. Before committing to Maryland, she had the opportunity to text with the then-sophomore and they immediately connected over Judaism.

Horwitz’s support helped Goldstein quickly adjust to living by herself and being away from her family for the first time. She had someone to teach her about campus life and help her avoid getting lost in class buildings.

Last season, in a game against Lock Haven on Sept. 15, Horwitz and Goldstein each scored their first collegiate goals, sealing Maryland’s 8-1 win. Goldstein remembered how her signature backhand shot found the net. Horwitz recalled the excitement of the moment.

“It was a great moment. I celebrated with Ellie and there’s a photo of us high-fiving. It was such a good feeling, all of your work paying off and being there with your teammates and them being happy for you. I’ll definitely never forget that,” Horwitz said.

While she has already been a role model for Goldstein, Horwitz stepped into a larger leadership role for the team as a senior. She said her focus is on setting a good example and being vocal.

Horwitz spent two years as the only Jewish member of the team. She explained how the team’s support created the sense of belonging that she now works to give Goldstein.

“You’re in the minority. I think [head coach] Missy [Meharg] definitely made me feel very included. When Ellie wasn’t here, she would let me say a prayer over the wine or the bread. She was very good at making me feel included and safe,” Horwitz said.

Regardless of what happens for the rest of the season, Horwitz reflected on her career with gratitude and credited the daily grind for shaping her into a more disciplined person. She pointed out multiple ways that her skills will carry into her everyday life.

“In the workforce and my career, I’ll definitely have an edge up and be able to have harder conversations with co-workers or bosses because of that,” Horwitz said.

Horwitz hopes to pursue a master’s degree next year and play an additional season of field hockey. She later plans to work at a marketing agency after graduation.

Maryland Field Hockey travels to Ohio State for a 3:00 p.m. game on Friday and closes the weekend with a noon matchup at Michigan State on Sunday.