There’s an old saying in sports: “Size doesn’t matter.” Defying that notion may seem impossible, but look at some of the greats who have done just that: Simone Biles, Muggsy Bogues, Lionel Messi, Wes Welker and many more.
Maryland field hockey senior goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko knows exactly what it takes to do that, from beating cancer as a youth to being doubted by coaches because of her 5-foot-4 frame. She is now developing into one of the top goalkeepers in the country and leading a historic program.
“I see my size as my greatest strength. I don’t view it as a negative but as a challenge,” Klebasko said. “People have always underestimated me throughout my whole field hockey career. I’ve been told I’m too short so many times, and many coaches said I’m not big enough to be a high-level goalkeeper. Every time I heard those comments, I used them as fuel, and they fired me up to not only prove them wrong but show I can do just that.”
An Odenton, Md., native, Klebasko started playing field hockey around age 6 after her mother, Gretchen, signed her up for a local rec team. Klebasko fell in love with the game and has stuck with it ever since.
When asked about how she specifically became a goalkeeper, Klebasko described the reason as surreal.
Just after her sixth birthday, Klebasko faced a life-changing experience no one can prepare for. She was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, which resulted in her going through treatment for about two and a half years, including chemotherapy, which affected her balance and her ability to walk.
“I wanted to keep playing [field hockey], so I became a goalie,” Klebasko said. “I would literally hang on to the post when the ball was on the other side of the field, because I couldn’t really walk. But that’s kind of how I became a goalie, and I’ve just never looked back.”
Klebasko attended Maryland games since she was about 8 or 9 years old. She was a ball girl during some of those games, which only strengthened her dream of playing at Maryland.
Klebasko played for Freedom Hockey Club from age 8 until she graduated from Garrison Forest School, and, funny enough, the club team practiced in College Park, where she gained early experience playing on water-based AstroTurf.
Klebasko credits coaches Sarah Dawson, Noelle Frost and Kasey Tapman Asper for helping her develop with Freedom. Frost, a former Maryland goalkeeper, was her goalie coach at Freedom, while Tapman Asper is now an associate head coach for the Terps.
Freedom was one of the top programs in the country during Klebasko’s time there. The standard of training and expectations helped prepare her for college.
“The level of the training was super high. All of my coaches expected a lot from us, and it really prepared us for college,” Klebasko said. “We were always expected to show up, play our best and work hard, which translated to the next level, which made it as easy as it could be with Maryland.”
Klebasko’s decision to commit to Maryland in July 2021 was a no-brainer for her despite interest from other schools, including the University of Delaware and Wake Forest University.
“Maryland was always my dream school,” a smiling Klebasko said. “As soon as head coach Missy Meharg called, it was a dream come true. I kept my options open for a little bit, but at the end of the day, I wanted to go to Maryland. There was no doubt that I knew this was my home, and both of my parents were Terps.”
Klebasko made a great impression on Meharg from an early age.
“Day 1 would’ve been when she was 8 years old, and what I saw was someone who loves the game more than anything else in life,” Meharg recalled. “She’s a fit athlete and is quick as a cat. When I saw her playing for Freedom Hockey at that young age, I caught her early and got a chance to catch her warming up before a game, where I caught her eyes and knew she’d be in a Maryland jersey.”
The goalkeeper has made a lasting impact at College Park since she arrived in 2023. She posted a 35-15 record with 207 saves and 17 shutouts from 2023-2025, with goals-against averages of 1.02, 1.00 and 1.07.
Klebasko has played at an elite level this season for a Terps team that is off to a 12-0 start. She carries an 0.75 goals-against average and an .814 save percentage entering play against Michigan State on Oct. 16.
Klebasko quickly acknowledged her teammates for not only her hot start to the season but the team’s.
“My job is easy because the defenders I have in front of me are so amazing,” Klebasko said. “Every single person is so good, and they know what to do when they’re on the field. They do their job well, making my job much easier — pressuring the ball, forcing low-angle shots and taking care of 1v1 matchups. I know I have to take care of my role. One thing I’ve seen this year more than any other is that we defend as one unit.”
After a disappointing and surprising 10-8 overall finish last season, which saw the Terps miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in more than 30 years, Klebasko has described the team as “coming for revenge,” and said that the Terps are “showing everyone Maryland is back,” ready and eager to play their best hockey night in and out. She also highlighted how, in the spring, the team really came together, unified as one.
“Last year was disappointing for us, and this spring we got together, knowing that we all want to be here and know how good we can be,” Klebasko said. “We’ve worked so hard since then, carrying that preparation over into the fall, which is helping us be successful today. We know we have to show up every single game and play the best hockey we can. This year we’re coming for revenge and to show everyone that Maryland is back and one of the top programs in the country.”
Following graduation, Klebasko plans to attend nursing school in an accelerated program to become a pediatric oncology nurse.
“The nurses and the doctors saved my life, and I’ve always felt this want to give back and help other kids who are going through the same thing,” Klebasko said. “I’ve felt that this is the path for me, and it is what I was meant to do.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics
Issue 301: October / November 2026
Originally published Oct. 14, 2026