Standing on the hallowed grounds of Michigan Stadium before a crowd of 114,804 that set the all-time attendance record for a football game-college or NFL-Maddie Clarfield knew for sure this is where she belonged. Five months later she made it official, signing a letter of intent to play women’s soccer for the University of Michigan.
Clarfield will never forget the moment when she walked on to the field of the “Big House” where Michigan was playing the University of Notre Dame on that fall Saturday evening. A sea of maize and blue rabid fans surrounded her and other high school seniors in town for an official recruiting weekend.
The wide-eyed 17-year old from Malibu High School took in the sights and sounds of an electric atmosphere. “Hail to the Victors” roared throughout the fabled stadium. Her decision where to attend college quickly became an easy one.
“The fact that all these people were so proud to be at Michigan was incredible. There was so much pride,” Clarfield said. “The moment I stepped on to the campus I had this feeling that this is where I am supposed to be. The coaches were awesome and the girls on the team were so nice.”
Heavily recruited by Michigan, UCLA and Boston College, Clarfield, a star goalkeeper, decided to choose the Wolverines and signed her letter of intent on Feb. 1.
“It was a culmination of all the hard work that I had given,” Clarfield said. “I committed myself my entire life to a sport and sacrificed a lot of things. To sign that letter and to see it right there in front of me told me that ‘I did it.’ I achieved my ultimate goal.”
Clarfield will join an incoming class of eight players recruited by Michigan Coach Greg Ryan. Calling them an “outstanding group of soccer players,” Ryan is very excited about the 2012 class and Clarfield in particular.
“They will make an immediate and positive impact on our 2012 team, and will blend well with our returnees. I cannot wait to get this group together in August,” said Ryan, who was the U.S. national team head coach from 2005 to 2007.
“Maddie is a very technical, hard-working goalkeeper. At 5-10, Maddie and Haley Kopmeyer [the current Michigan goalkeeper] are two of the tallest goalkeepers in the Big Ten, allowing them to cover all of the space in goal. We expect Maddie to come in and compete for playing time with Haley right away, and we think she’s got a very bright future in front of her.”
Clarfield prides herself on the nuances of being a goalkeeper.
“It’s lonely but I absolutely adore it. I tell people that you have to have something wrong with you,” Clarfield said. “I love the pressure and the anxiety of just being in that position. The feeling that you get when you make a big save or when you hear your teammates say ‘good job’ makes it all worth it. I wouldn’t trade being a goalkeeper for the world.”
Clarfield concluded her great career at MHS by leading the Sharks to the CIF quarterfinals this past season. Her stats are almost numbing. Clarfield played more than 4,700 minutes in goal for Malibu while posting 34 shutouts and a .88 goals against average. She was a part of 46 wins, including a CIF Division VI Championship in 2010.
“It’s been an unbelievable time,” Clarfield said. “We made the playoffs all four of my years, won CIF my sophomore year and just being able to represent my school was a special experience for me.”
She was recently named the Tri-Valley League Goalkeeper of the Year for 2011-12 and made first-team All-League for a third consecutive season. Clarfield will represent MHS in a senior all-star game at La Mirada High School this Saturday. The long string of honors underscores how rare it is that such talented players come along.
“She will be missed here at Malibu but the legacy she has left will last a long time,” Malibu Coach John Johnstone said. “It will go a long way in the continuing process of building a strong and recognized program at MHS.”
Moving from the sunny city of Malibu to the cold confines of the Midwest, Clarfield is ready for her new challenge.
“Everyone asks me if I have a warm coat. It will be different. I wanted something different in my life and I am so excited about it.”
Clarfield won’t have to wait long before her friends and family can see her in her new colors. Michigan will be in town during Labor Day weekend when they play at Cal State Northridge and Cal State Long Beach. A well-deserved homecoming is in store for this Shark turned Wolverine.