Dani Gichner is all about perseverance after two years on Maryland’s women’s soccer team.
The sophomore spoke to Mitzpeh right after an early morning platelet-rich plasma injection, the latest step in her ankle rehab.
Gichner suffered the injury over the summer and missed the entire regular season. She reflected on the difficulty of staying off the field for a full season.
“I wanted to play with the seniors, but I’ve tried to make the most of it and be a positive member of the team and contribute in that way. It was hard in the beginning, but I accepted that there’s not really anything I can do about it. I just tried to make the most of my situation,” Gichner said.
Persistent injuries, dating back to a senior year ankle surgery, dampened Gichner’s self-confidence and challenged her to grow as a person and player. She turned her mentality around between seasons.
“It’s taught me dedication and perseverance because last season was hard. I was definitely going through it mentally, but to come out of that loving the school and loving soccer again shows me that pushing through is a good thing. In the moment, I never would have been able to predict that this is how happy I’d be at this school on this team,” Gichner said.
Gichner, a native of Northbrook, Illinois, loved soccer from an early age. She always knew she would pursue it, even after a brief period of also playing tennis. In high school, she started playing for Eclipse Select SC, an Illinois club soccer team. Playing club soccer taught her what life is like as the only Jew in a group.
“[My teammates] didn’t think I was a myth, but they really didn’t know Jewish people. Being on that team, I knew it was important to me to be surrounded by Jews or people who grew up around Jews because I didn’t want to feel like I was alone,” Gichner said.
Gichner established herself as a winning player in high school and club soccer. She won two regional championships for Glenbrook North and received annual conference accolades for Eclipse. That level of play got the attention of college scouts and TopDrawer Soccer, a prospect site that ranked her the 23rd best midwestern prospect.
Maryland stood out during the recruitment process because it brought a mix of Big Ten competition and a departure from life in Illinois. Gichner had family in the area, so while leaving home seemed challenging, she knew that she had support if needed.
Maryland’s Jewish student population also drew her to becoming a Terrapin. Gichner knew she wanted to be part of a strong Jewish community after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. She hopes to find more ways to engage with the larger Jewish campus community now that the season is over.
Gichner announced her commitment to Maryland in her junior year. She made her Terrapin debut on Sept. 8, 2024, in a 4-0 win against VCU. The excitement of playing her first college game did not outweigh a frustrating first season, spoiled by injury.
That 2024 season turned into a key transitional year for the program. Maryland Athletics fired Meghan Ryan Nemzer, the head coach who recruited Gichner, on Oct. 10, 2024, after the team opened the season with a 3-7-4 record. Current head coach Michael Marchiano took over that same day.
Coach firings in college can prompt younger student-athletes to transfer to a new program. Gichner explained that she found the turnover “hectic and stressful.” Despite the drama, she chose to remain faithful to the program.
“I didn’t consider transferring because I wanted to give it a shot. I loved the school and I loved the team. I knew that it was possible for this program to become something great and there are amazing people on this team, both on the field and also off. I’m happy I stayed. I love it here. I can’t see myself anywhere else,” Gichner said.
Marchiano guided the women’s soccer program to six wins this season, their most since 2019. His coaching style differed from Nemzer’s approach and led to a step forward for the program, which they will try to improve upon for 2026.
“We definitely are ready to look forward and move forward and try to keep building. But there’s definitely a foundation that was set this year,” Marchiano said.
Gichner agreed that the change helped spark the team’s improvement.
“I think it was honestly nice having a fresh start and spring because everyone needed that after going through the hard fall and especially the other people on the team who had been here for longer than just one semester. I think he’s been great,” Gichner said.
Off the field, Gichner has appreciated the opportunity to bond with others on campus over Judaism. She described her two years at Maryland as a key piece of how she leaned into her faith.
“My Jewish pride has grown. As I see more people experience antisemitism, it makes me want to be even more proud of being Jewish. I’m not scared to say it and show it because you can’t be scared nowadays; you have to be proud. That’s what makes the Jewish people so strong and united is that people are proud and not afraid,” Gichner said.
Gichner projects to play a key role next season for a Terrapins team that will need to fill the void left by seven seniors this year.
