Persistence Pays Off for Laurel's Faulkner

There was never any doubt.

If you listen to Laurel's Annesia Faulkner, there was no doubt in her mind she would not be part of the women's soccer team at the University of the Maryland the previous two seasons, even though she was too injured to play for the Terps.

A former soccer standout at St. Vincent Pallotti High in Laurel, Faulkner showed promise as a freshman for Maryland in 2007 when she made her first start against nationally-ranked Clemson.

That was no small feat, going from a small school such as Pallotti to earning a starting role in the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the top Division I leagues in the country.

But Faulkner, who played as a sophomore in 2008, has undergone four surgeries since she began her college career in College Park. She was a redshirt in 2009 and also did not see action last year for the Terps, who were 18-2-3 overall after posting a mark of 1-7-1 in the ACC when Faulkner was a freshman.

"I am finally 100 percent healthy, for the first time since 2008," Faulkner, a forward who could see action in the midfield, told Patch this week. "It is nice to be on the team and be part of the team. I am super excited.

"I knew I was going to finish four years. It was a bumpier road than I expected," she added. "I think it has made me a better player and person."

"She is healthy and 100 percent," said head coach Brian Pensky, who was 5-11-3 in his first season with Maryland in 2005. "She will contribute. We are elated to have her back. She knows this program inside and out. We are happy to have her."

Maryland opens its season at home Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. against Minnesota, and if Faulkner sees action it will be the first time she has played in a real game in nearly three years. The Terps play at Loyola of Baltimore on Monday at 7 p.m. then host Stanford on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

For the previous two seasons Faulkner would travel on her own to as many away games as possible, even though she knew she would not play. She also attended practice on a regular basis. "I did everything. I knew whatever the team did I was going to be involved, as much as I could," she said.

Faulkner said she has had one surgery on her hand and three on her left foot since she entered Maryland. "I got hurt during a fitness drill in the spring of 2009. I broke my foot on the track. It just did not heal. I had to have surgery and the first surgery did not work," she said. "The second one did not work."

Faulkner, a history major and National Honor Society member while in College Park, plans to graduate in December. She would be eligible to play a fourth season in 2012 but she said there is no way that will happen. "I am worn out. I will be done" after this season, Faulkner said.

Part of her motivation to stay involved with the Terps while injured stems from her future plans.

"I want to be a high school history teacher and coach," Faulkner said. "I love being involved (with soccer). I don't see myself stopping." She plans to enter graduate school at Maryland in January as she works towards a dual master's degree; one in education and another in how to use technology as an educator.

Faulkner, a forward, played in 17 games with one assist as a freshman for the Terps. The next year she played in 18 games, with one goal and six assists. She tied a school record with three assists in a win over Mount St. Mary's as a sophomore.

As a senior at Pallotti in 2006 she scored 20 goals with 18 assists and led the Panthers to a national ranking under former head coach Mike Vawter.

Faulkner was named the state nominee for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award, the state nominee for Wendy's High School Heisman and was first-team all-Met in The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.

She also scored more than 1,000 points in her basketball career at Pallotti. Faulkner's sister, Emily, is a senior at Pallotti. Their parents are Randy and Beth Faulkner.

Yewande Balogun, a senior goalie for the Terps, has been impressed with the work ethic of the elder Faulkner since they both arrived on campus as freshmen. 

"She has been very strong about it," said Balogun, a Bowie resident who played at Eleanor Roosevelt High in Greenbelt. "It is tough being injured and not easy to watch everyone else play while you are trying to get back in shape. She has been good about it. I am happy she is back and playing."