Ariel Nehemiah Class: Junior Hometown: Gaithersburg, Md. High School: Quince Orchard Height: 5-8 Position: Forward Major: Physiology and Neurobiology

As a sophomore (2009): Did not compete due to injury.

As a freshman (2008): Sat out the season due to off-season surgery.

Before Maryland: Decorated midfielder from Quince Orchard High School ... a three-year letterwinner for coach Peg Keiller ... 2007 NSCAA Scholar All-American ... named the state Player of the Year by the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame ... scored 15 goals with seven assists in 2007 to lead the Cougars to their second straight state 4A championship ... first team all-state by the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer ... Washington Post second team All-Met ... first team All-Examiner ... first team all-county by the Capital Gazette ... all-south region ... scholar all-region ... named Quince Orchard's 2008 Outstanding Senior Athlete ... played club soccer for the Bethesda Pride ... helped lead the Pride to semifinal appearances in the State Cup in 2005 and 2006 ... also competed in track ... a member of Quince Orchard's record-breaking 4x400 relay team.

Personal: Daughter of Renaldo Nehemiah and Gloria Soto ... father is a Maryland alum and a three-time NCAA track and field champion ... he also is a former world record holder in the 110 m hurdles and was the first person to ever break the 0:13 mark ... older sister of Samara ... cousin of J.P. Losman, starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills ... recipient of a Banneker Key Scholarship for academic achievement ... four-year honor roll member with a 3.92 cumulative GPA (4.60 weighted GPA) ... National Achievement Scholar finalist ... member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society ... All-Met Scholar nominee by the Washington Metropolitan Scholars ... majoring in physiology and neurobiology with a 3.0 GPA.