After a senior soccer season studded with awards, Tualatin women’s soccer standout Maya Loudd is taking her game north next fall to the University of Washington.
The Timberwolves co-captain, a four-year starter coach, Kale’ Dwight, says Loudd led the team by example both on and off the pitch and shared Oregon player of the year with Sunset’s Ellie Felt.
Loudd, who took her time finalizing the decision after verbally committing to the Huskies last year, says the school is an ideal, all-around fit for her next step.
“I felt like it was important when looking for a school that not only did it have a great soccer environment, but (a great all-around environment). I’m also there for school,” she said. “That’s where I’m going to be spending four years of my life. The academics are super amazing at Washington.”
After playing for the West team in the 2022 high school All-American game, Loudd finished her senior season at Tualatin with 13 goals and six assists, including a hat trick in the Timberwolves’ 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Sheldon.
“She can play anywhere. She’s just so adept at any position and so quick to learn it. So fast. She’s just incredible.” Dwight said. “She’s just a natural leader. She’s very quiet, but the way she plays and the way she carries herself, she leads that way.”
Leading and mentoring younger players has been a senior year highlight.
“I remember being a freshman and looking up to the seniors so much. I was just excited to be that role model for the freshman and the underclassmen,” she said.
She helped the Timberwolves, 12-6 overall, through three playoff wins before they were eliminated during the state semi-final in a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Jesuit, who went on to take beat West Linn in the championship game.
Tualatin held the Crusaders scoreless into overtime, longer than any other team this season, a feat Dwight attributed largely to Loudd and her senior co-captains Avery Porter and Peyton Howard.
“Avery, Peyton, and Maya were just the spine of our team this year,” he said. “The three of them are beasts. The whole team this year (was fantastic), but those three were critical in getting us to the semi-finals.”
The Crusaders were only able to find the net after Howard left the game deep into OT with an injured hamstring, and Loudd was sidelined by severe leg cramps moments later.
“It’s telling that Jesuit didn’t score on us until I had to pull both Maya and Peyton,” Dwight said. “Right after we pulled out Maya, two minutes later, they scored on us. I think we would have held them into penalty kicks if I didn’t have to pull them out.”
The trio was the heart of a team loaded with seniors that held itself to high standards and mixed big doses of levity into the hard work.
“This was a very revitalizing year for me personally with these girls. They were just so fun,” Dwight said. “I could be having such a bad day, and I went to practice, and they made me laugh. I looked forward to seeing them every single day.”
