by Jimmy Yates ’21

After a very successful high school and college career, Hope Gouterman is coming back to coach Sherwood girl’s varsity, where she played four years on varsity from 2008-2012 before going off to play at the University of Maryland (UMD). Gouterman is coming to a Sherwood varsity program which has had several different coaches in the past decade, and she is the first girls varsity coach to have played at Sherwood herself.

Gouterman, a two time MVP and varsity captain, helped lead Sherwood to Division and Region Titles along with appearance in the state final four. In her 2012 senior year, Gouterman scored 16 goals and had 32 assists, earning All-State and First Team All-Met by the Washington Post. Gouterman continued her successful player career at UMD, winning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and becoming the Maryland women’s varsity soccer team captain in her 2017 senior season. After graduating college, Gouterman helped her former club coach and coach several soccer camps before transitioning to assistant coach for Sherwood girls’ varsity soccer.

“I did not play at the next level, but I am still wildly invested in the sport and it is a passion of mine,” said Gouterman. “The position of coach is appealing because I have the ability to develop these girls both on and off the field.” She said that Sherwood was essentially where she started her soccer career and being able to come back and help others reach their goals is very exciting for her.

Gouterman has already held a parent and player meeting for girls varsity soccer clarifying the summer league plans and the expectations for next season. “I am doing all that I can to ensure a smooth transition … so that we can have a successful season,” she said. “ I get how much [coaching] turnover affects the players … I must first prove to these girls that I am in this for the long haul.”

Three time varsity girls player and current junior Eliza Averbach is optimistic about about Gouterman’s arrival at Sherwood. “I am confident that Hope will bring lots of energy and excitement to the team this year. She has already impressed us with her knowledge of soccer and teamwork as an assistant coach this past season… It is also exciting to have a coach who is able to connect to the players.”

Averbach has previously experienced a switch in coaching in her sophomore season when Coach Tucker Schrum took over for Danielle Rosanova. “It is important to keep an open mind when faced with change…with a new coach, the team just has to learn and embrace that new coach’s ways of running things.”

Gouterman and the girls will look to build on their 6-5 regular season record from last year.

Four freshman, six sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors made girls varsity last season, and Gouterman will be coming to a balanced and experienced varsity program with time to develop and improve.