Oct. 23, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Riding a five-game winning streak, the Maryland women's soccer team hosts defending ACC champion and current first-place team North Carolina at Ludwig Field on Sunday afternoon. The Terps have improved their record to 8-7-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the ACC, to stand in second place behind only the undefeated Tar Heels, who are 14-2 overall and 5-0 in the conference.

Maryland's last two wins have come against ranked ACC rivals, as the Terps upset No. 9 Clemson last Sunday, 2-1 in overtime and stunned No. 11 Wake Forest on Friday night, 1-0. Senior midfielder Emily Janss (Brandon, Fla.) has scored all of Maryland's goals in those games, inlcuding the overtime game-winner against the Tigers.

Maryland has recorded shutouts in four of its last five victories and outscored its opponents 8-1 in the five matches.

North Carolina enters Sunday's game coming off a 2-0 win at Virginia on Friday night. The Tar Heels are currently ranked No. 3 in the NSCAA poll and No. 2 in the Soccer America, SoccerTimes.com and Soccer Buzz polls. North Carolina has won eight games in a row, outscoring its opponents 26-4 over that stretch.

Higgins-Cirovski Faces Alma Mater, Former Coach
Sunday's game will be an interesting one as Maryland head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski goes head-to-head with her college coach Anson Dorrance, North Carolina's legendary mentor. Higgins-Cirovski was a four-year star for the Tar Heels from 1986-89, when North Carolina compiled an astonishing 89-0-6 record on its way to four consecutive national championships. Higgins-Cirovski was also named national Player of the Year by Soccer America in 1988 and 1989. As a coach, she has faced her alma mater twice as the coach of George Washington. In 1993, the Tar Heels topped the Colonials, 4-0 and in 1994, UNC defeated GW, 2-0.

Dorrance speaks very highly of Higgins-Cirovski, as a player and a coach. "Of all the players I have coached, no one is more suited to be a coach," said Dorrance. "She is a brilliant field organizer and tactical genius. The cliche 'coach on the field' certainly always applied to her during her playing career. Every team she presents will be well-organized and difficult to play."

Maryland Moves To No. 5 In Mid-Atlantic Region
With last Sunday's win over Clemson the Terps have moved back to .500 and are ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Maryland must maintain a .500 record to qualify for its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

"That was our goal, to get back to .500 and be ranked in the region," said head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski. "We have a lot ahead of us starting with the two games this weekend. But it's great to be in the poll."

NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Poll (Oct. 18)

1. Penn State (12-2-1)     6. Richmond (8-7-1)
2. Virginia (11-4)         7. Seton Hall (8-7-1)
3. William & Mary (11-3)   8. Penn (8-2-1)
4. James Madison (11-4)    9. Princeton (9-2-1)
5. Maryland (7-7-1)       10. Navy (11-5)

The Series With North Carolina

Last season, the Terps allowed their fewest goals to a North Carolina team, falling 2-0 on Oct. 23. In the last meeting between the teams in College Park, a Ludwig Field facility record 4,380 fans packed the facility to watch North Carolina post a 4-0 win on Oct. 10, 1997.

Janss Hits Grand Slam Of Honors

Janss was named the SoccerTimes.com NCAA Women's National Player of the Week on Tuesday night to wrap up the grand slam of awards. She was named to the Soccer America Women's Team of the Week, for the week ending Oct. 17, for the second time this season earlier in the day on Tuesday. Janss was also honored by Soccer America for the week ending Aug. 29.

On Monday, Janss was named the ACC Women's Soccer Player of the Week for the first time in her career. She was also honored as the University of Maryland Female Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday.

Soccer America Honors Mynarski
Senior tri-captain Jackie Mynarski (Somers, N.Y.) was named to the Soccer America Women's Team of the Week for the week ending Oct. 10. The midfielder recorded the game-winning goal in all three shutout wins last week, all of which were the first goal of the game. Maryland defeated George Mason 1-0 on Oct. 6, Rutgers 2-0 on Oct. 8, and Navy 2-0 on Oct. 10.

Overall, Mynarski has six game-winning goals in her career, three this season and three as a junior in 1998.

Interestingly, her three game-winning goals last season came over a span of four games in a seven-day span. This season, the three clinchers have come in a five-day stretch.

This season, Mynarski is Maryland's leading scorer with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. With seven goals this season, Mynarski now has 20 career goals to tie Kelly Amonte (1992-95), for sixth all-time in career goals as a Terp.

With her three-goal week, Mynarski has moved up the charts at a fast pace. She is also now seventh on the all-time point list.

Mynarski is the second Terp to be honored by Soccer America this year, fellow senior tri-captain Emily Janss was named to the Aug. 29 Team of the Week.

Terps Play Ranked Teams
Maryland faces one of the nation's toughest schedules this season, taking on 10 teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA women's soccer poll of Oct. 18. The ACC features five teams ranked in the top 25, led by No. 3 North Carolina. Also ranked from the conference are No. 9 Virginia, No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 14 Clemson and No. 21 Duke. Maryland's 1999 schedule features four non-conference foes that are ranked. USC is No. 7, UCLA is No. 15, William & Mary is No. 17t and Baylor is No. 25. James Madison is third among teams also receiving votes.

No. 9 Is Nice For Terps
Maryland recorded its two biggest wins against teams that were ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA poll when the Terps played them.

The Terps upset then-No. 9 Duke on Sept. 19 in overtime, 4-3, as Sara Gustafson scored two goals including the game-winner in overtime. Maryland also stopped then-No.9 Clemson in overtime on Emily Janss' pair of goals including the winner with 1:14 left in the first overtime on Oct. 17.

Of Maryland's seven losses, five have come against teams currently ranked in the top 25 (USC, UCLA, Baylor, Virginia and William & Mary).

Mynarski, Janss On The Charts
Senior tri-captains Jackie Mynarski and Emily Janss are both ranked on Maryland's career top-10 lists in points and goals.

With a team-high seven goals and 16 points this season, Mynarski has 20 career goals and 50 points over her four-year career. Janss broke into the top 10 on both lists with her two-goal performance against Clemson. She added to that with the game-winner against Wake Forest. With six goals and 15 points this season, she has 15 career goals and 38 points.

Maryland Career Points Leaders

 1. Keri Sarver (1995-98)        155
 2. Emmy Harbo (1995-98)         140
 3. Robin McCullough (1995-98)    66
 4t. Michelle Deville (1994-97)   63
 4t. Randi Goldblatt (1991-94)    63
 6. Kelly Amonte (1992-95)        54
 7. Jackie Mynarski (1996-Pres.)  50
 8. Audra Weber (1991-94)         46
 9. Stephanie Magro (1991-94)     39
10. Emily Janss (1996-Pres.)      38

Maryland Career Goals Leaders

 1. Keri Sarver (1995-98)         61
 2. Emmy Harbo (1995-98)          56
 3. Randi Goldblatt (1991-94)     28
 4. Michelle Deville (1994-97)    25
 5. Robin McCullough (1995-98)    21
 6t. Kelly Amonte (1992-95)       20
 6t. Jackie Mynarski (1996-Pres.) 20
 8. Audra Weber (1991-94)         19
 9. Stephanie Magro (1991-94)     16
10. Emily Janss (1996-Pres.)      15

Mynarski also ranks 10th on the career assists list with 10.

Maryland Career Assists Leaders

 1. Keri Sarver (1995-98)        33
 2. Emmy Harbo (1995-98)         28
 3. Robin McCullough (1995-98)   24
 4. Michelle Salmon (1994-97)    19
 5. Leslie Kehrin (1992-94)      15
 6. Kelly Amonte (1992-95)       14
 7. Michelle Deville (1994-97)   13
 8t. Tania Sheremeta (1990-93)   12
 8t. Terri Rich (1992-95)        12
10. Jackie Mynarski (1996-Pres.) 10

Janss, Mynarski On Games List
Maryland captains Emily Janss and Jackie Mynarski have moved into the top 10 career lists for most games played in a Maryland career. The pair which has played on defense and midfield over their four-year tenures at Maryland and have been two of the most stable elements of the Terps' lineup for the past few years.

By playing in all 16 games this season, all starts, Janss has played in 89 games in the red, black and white while Mynarski has seen action in 87 matches.

Maryland Career Games Played Leaders

1.  Robin McCullough (1995-98)     97
2t. Keri Sarver (1995-98)          94
2t. Emmy Harbo (1995-98)           94
3.  Emily Janss (1996-present)     89
4.  Maureen McDonough (1993-96)    88
4t. Michelle Salmon (1994-97)      88
6t. Erin Taylor (1993-96)          87
6t. Michelle Deville (1994-97)     87
6t. Jackie Mynarski (1996-present) 87

Givens Continues To Assist
Lindsay Givens leads Maryland in assists this season with five. The freshman is four off the class record of assists, set by Emmy Harbo (9) in 1995.

Givens picked up her fifth assist on a perfect throw-in to Emily Janss in the box to give Maryland a 1-0 lead against Clemson on Sunday.

The Downingtown, Pa., native has picked up all five helpers in the last eight games including a stretch of three in four games.

Goalies On Charts
Ali Wolff and Riki-Ann Serrins are among the all-time leaders in goalie stats at Maryland. Both players rank in the top six in career saves, goals against average, shutouts and games played.

Maryland Career Saves Leaders

1. Cailin Mullins (1990-93)      354
2. Heather Rowe (1993-96)        258
3. Missy Price (1993-96)         216
4. Ali Wolff (1997-Pres.)        181
5. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Pres.) 108

Maryland Career Goals Against Avg. Leaders

1. Kassie Knecht (1995-96)          1.07
2. Missy Price (1993-96)            1.22
3. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Pres.)    1.28
4. Ali Wolff (1997-Pres.)           1.93

Maryland Career Shutout Leaders

1.  Missy Price (1993-96)         13
2.  Heather Rowe (1988-91)        12
3t. Ali Wolff (1997-Pres.)        10.5
3t. Cailin Mullins (1990-93)      10
5.  Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Pres.) 7.5

Maryland Career Games Played Leaders

1. Cailin Mullins (1990-93)      70
2. Missy Price (1993-96)         56
3. Heather Rowe (1988-91)        49
4. Ali Wolff (1997-Pres.)        44
5. Kassie Knecht (1995-96)       34
6. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Pres.) 33

Freshmen Draw Starting Nods
Shannon Higgins-Cirovski has depended heavily on freshmen and sophomore transfer Sara Gustafson (Reisterstown, Md.) this season. Six different first-year players have started for the Terps in 1999. In fact, over the Terps' 15 games, 50 percent of the starting positions have been held by freshmen or Gustafson.

Leading the way for the freshmen starters have been defensive stalwarts Lindsay Givens, Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio) and Sally Harrison (Virginia Beach, Va.). The trio has started all 15 games this season.

Up front, Gustafson has started all 15 games along with midfielder Valerie Lawrence (Silver Spring, Md.). Kim King and Dana Jarzyniecki have each started four games also this season.

King started her Maryland career on fire scoring in her first two games. King is the first Maryland freshman to score in her first two college games since Emmy Harbo scored in each of her two games in the 1995 season against Virginia Tech and George Mason.

Outshooting Opponents
Maryland has outshot its opponents eight times this year and has recorded a 5-3-0 record in those games. The Terps have outshot their foes in five of the last seven games.

Overall, this season, Maryland has outshot its opponents 194-158, 89-70 in the first half and 94-77 in the second half.

King Notches Three Off Bench
Kim King has added offense to the Maryland lineup when she enters the game off the bench. For the third time this year King scored after entering the game on a substitution, when she scored at with 2:50 left in the first half of the William & Mary game.

This season, King ranks tied for third on the team in goals scored with three and fifth for in points with six.

Winning At Ludwig
With three consecutive wins at Ludwig Field, Maryland improved to 4-3-0 this season at home. Since the facility was constructed in 1995, Maryland has dominated opponents at home, compiling a 41-12-3 record for a 75.9 win percentage.

Women's Soccer On WMUC Radio
All of Maryland's remaining home games are scheduled to be broadcast live on WMUC radio (88.1 FM and 650 AM). The games can also be accessed over the Internet by going to wmuc.umd.edu. WMUC is also scheduled to broadcast all of the Terps' games from the ACC Tournament being held in Chapel Hill, N.C., from Nov. 4-7.

Rob Jemella calls play-by-play which Mike Medina and John Forsythe handles the color commentary.

WMUC Broadcast Schedule
Oct. 22 Maryland vs. Wake Forest, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Maryland vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m.
Nov. 4-7 ACC Tournament at Chapel Hill, N.C
.