Tough as They Come, Shoup was Always Perfect for Colorado

Colorado coach Ann Elliott Whidden quickly discerned that Maddie Shoup was a different caliber of competitor from their initial interactions in 2020.

“We’re going to get a kid that works super hard, that wants to be in these big moments, that’s a competitor and someone that’s capable on both ends of the field,” Whidden recalled of her early impressions of Shoup. “She’s someone that was going to be an impact player for us.”

Shoup pointed toward Colleen Magarity, her coach at Penn Charter (Pa.), as an early “bridge” between herself and the Buffaloes. Magarity helped Whidden start her program as an assistant coach in 2012. While she gave Shoup space to make her decision, Magarity knew Colorado presented a “perfect fit.”

Shoup didn’t take long to reach a similar wavelength.

“Coming from the East Coast, when you first step on campus, it feels like a whole different planet,” Shoup said. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful campus in such a beautiful area. Getting to stand up on the field, look up and see the mountains is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

While Whidden’s staff brought Shoup to Boulder as a midfielder, she has since developed into a dynamic attacker. The senior has scored 43 goals and dished out 20 assists this season, burying game-winners against national powerhouses Northwestern and Florida.

“Every year she has gained more confidence in terms of herself and understanding the full impact she can make on this team,” Whidden said. “That growth has been incredible. She’s found a great balance down this last bit of the stretch of being aggressive herself and being willing to take on big moments, but also being willing to let the next person do the next thing.”

Shoup has led the Buffaloes into unprecedented territory. Within the past two weeks, Colorado won its first Big 12 championship, secured its first-ever NCAA tournament seed and advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal round.

During this whirlwind stretch, Shoup and her fellow seniors missed their graduation ceremony. Instead, they knocked off Florida 8-6 in the Big 12 title game on May 2. Shoup scored four goals as she traded the conventional cap and gown for a conference championship hat and T-shirt.

“Seeing the seconds tick down on the clock was just the best feeling ever,” Shoup said. “We entered that tournament knowing we were more than capable of winning. We were still thinking about the last time we played Florida. Losing that game was definitely hard on us. We knew we could beat them.”

For Shoup, the belief behind the program’s first NCAA berth since 2019 settled in during the long hours of fall ball.

“We fight with a little bit of a chip in our shoulder,” Shoup said. “We always want more out of everything we do. That’s how we’ve done so well. We’re just a gritty group.”

While her clutch goal-scoring and craftiness have helped Shoup rise atop opposing scouts, the attacker’s game-sealing play in the Buffaloes’ 11-9 second round NCAA tournament win over Denver on Sunday was pure toughness. After stepping up to the 8-meter arc with just one minute remaining, Shoup absorbed a check to the face, drawing a card and fresh shot clock.

Although she chipped an upper front tooth, Shoup couldn’t hide a smile during Colorado’s postgame celebration. A Monday 7 a.m. trip to the dentist got Shoup squared away before her team departed for Evanston the next day.

“The toughness she has to bounce back up to enjoy that moment with her team and not be worried about herself speaks to who she is,” Whidden said. “She’s a total team player. She’s willing to end up on the ground all game, and she does it for the team. Maddie doesn’t care how it gets done. She just wants to get the job done and be able to play another day.”

As she nears the final stages of her college career, Shoup plans to remain connected with the sport going forward. Her younger sister, Katie, is a Colorado commit in the 2027 class — which Shoup said will afford her a tremendous excuse to visit Boulder as much as possible.

Magarity, who’s also the coach of the WLL’s New York Charging, believes Shoup’s playing days may be far from over. Shoup will soon receive a text instructing her to keep a stick in her hands and her ears peeled for potential professional opportunities, Magarity said.

“Whenever Maddie is on the field, you’re just drawn to her,” Magarity said. “She has something about the way she plays. Her ability to never give up and just get it done is second to none. She’s truly a special person in my heart.”

Shoup, who battled back from stress fractures in her foot to score five goals in the Buffaloes’ season-opening stunner at Northwestern on Feb. 9, will again face the Wildcats with a trip to the NCAA semifinals at stake.

In a season filled with memories for Whidden and her players, the coach said she’s delighted Colorado has an opportunity to write another chapter to its story against top-seeded Northwestern on Thursday at Martin Stadium.

“I don’t ever want it to end, so that pushes us even harder,” Shoup said. “If we could keep going forever, we obviously would. But I also think we have nothing to lose. Why not go out there and prove a point, prove we can compete with any team here?”