Nov. 7, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Under the leadership of ACC Coach of the Year Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, the Maryland women's soccer team earned its school-record fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth on Sunday night. The Terps will host Northeast Conference champion Long Island University on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Ludwig Field.

The Terps which advanced to the ACC semifinals, enter the NCAA Tournament with a 10-9-1 record. Maryland has never faced Long Island in women's soccer. The Blackbirds are a third-year program and enter the tournament with an 11-8-2 record. LIU advanced to the tournament after winning the play-in game against Southwest Texas State, 1-0, on Saturday.

"It doesn't matter who you play, it will be a tough game," said Higgins-Cirovski. "The NCAA Tournament is a different world, every game is a fight for your life because it could be your last game. We can't take any team lightly."

If the Terps advance to the second round, Maryland will play at No. 6 seed Penn State (18-3-1) on Sunday, Nov. 14 at noon in University Park, Pa.

Maryland was one of six ACC teams to make the tournament, the most of any conference in the nation. The Terps played 11 teams in the NCAA Tournament field and 13 total games against tournament teams.

Maryland advanced to the second round of last season's tournament after defeating Fairfield, 4-3 in the first round before falling to William & Mary in the second round.