Dec. 14, 1999

BROOKLINE, Mass. - No. 1-ranked Maryland defeated Michigan, 2-1, to claim the 1999 NCAA Division I field hockey championship at Parsons Field at Northeastern University on Nov. 21. Freshman Carissa Messimer (Mountaintop, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal as time expired in the first half to give the Terps the victory. It is the third NCAA field hockey championship for Maryland and its first since 1993.

Maryland closed its season with a 24-1 record while Michigan fell to 20-7. The 24 victories set a single-season record for the Terps and is the most since their 1993 NCAA championship team won 21 games. In addition, the Terps won their final 22 games of the season to establish a school-record for consecutive wins.

Maryland's Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) scored the Terps' first goal as she collected a loose ball and sent it past Wolverine goalie Kati Oakes with 10:06 remaining in the first half. Messimer scored the game-winner at the 0:00 mark as time expired in the first half. With time running out in the period, the Terps were awarded a free hit from just outside the circle. Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) shot the ball into the circle and it was tipped into the cage as time expired.

The Wolverines wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in the second half as Jessie Veith blasted a pass into the circle where Jessica Rose collected it. Rose swept the ball in to the far corner of the cage to cut the deficit to 2-1 with just 1:04 elapsed off the second-half clock. Michigan held Maryland to a pair of shots and two corners in the second half but was unable to tie the game.

Maryland goalkeeper Ashley Hohnstine (Oak Hill, Va.) made her only save in the second half to help preserve the victory.

GOALS: Michigan - Jessica Rose (Jessie Veith), 36:05. Maryland - Keli Smith (unassisted), 24:54, Carissa Messimer (assist Dina Rizzo), 35:00. SHOTS: Michigan, 5, Maryland, 13. PENALTY CORNERS: Michigan , 3, Maryland 8. SAVES: Michigan - Kati Oakes (7 saves, 2 goals allowed, 70 minutes played). Maryland - Ashley Hohnstine (1 save, 1 goal allowed, 70 minutes played).

Meharg Becomes One Of Four
Head coach Missy Meharg became one of only four coaches in NCAA field hockey to win multiple NCAA championships. Meharg has led the Terps to the 1993 and 1999 national titles.

Meharg's Career Record
Head coach Missy Meharg led the Terps to the 1999 national championship and a school-record 24 victories this season. In addition she has led the Terps to the two longest winning streaks in school history (21 straight in 1999 and 15 straight in 1993).

Honored Terps

Second Team All-American

Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American

Second Team

All-NCAA Tournament

All-Atlantic Coast Conference

Terps in the National Polls

NFHCA - National Field Hockey Coaches Association
SIW - Sports Illustrated for Women

Terps With 22 Consecutive Wins
Maryland won a school-record 22 consecutive games on its way to the NCAA championship. The Terps' 22-game winning streak betters the previous mark by seven, which was set during the 1993 season.

Top Winning Seasons
Maryland won a school-record 24 games this season.

Hiskins Sets School Record
Junior Rachel Hiskins (Victoria, Australia) established a school record for points in a single season with 67. Her 67 surpassed the former record of 63 by Lisa Buente during the 1990 season. Hiskins scored a career-high 18 goals (tied for seventh all-time) and recorded a career-high 31 assists (second best all-time) in reaching the total point plateau. The Mid-Atlantic regional All-American recorded at least one point in 20 of Maryland's 24 games and totaled a career-high six points three times during the season.

Single Season Total Points Record

Hiskins Second In Assists
Junior Rachel Hiskins recorded a career-high 31 assists this season. Her total ranks as the second-highest total in school history. Hiskins recorded single-game school-record tying four assists against Massachusetts (Sept. 11) and Princeton (Oct. 15). Hiskins recorded multiple assists in eight different games.

Single Season Assist Record

Tagliente Moves Into Fourth
Junior Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) recorded a career-high 55 total points in 1999 and now ranks fourth all-time in school history with 139 total points. She scored a near career-high 18 goals and added a career-high 19 assists in reaching her career-high points total. Tagliente recorded more assists (19) than she did during her first two seasons combined (12).

Career Total Points Record

Messimer Hot In The Postseason
Freshman Carissa Messimer (Mountaintop, Pa.) scored 13 goals this season including three in the NCAA Tournament. She scored the game-winning goal in the national championship game as the Terps defeated Michigan, 2-1. Messimer's goal came with no time remaining in the first half. Messimer scored one goal in the Terps' overtime victory over Old Dominion in the quarterfinals, one in the semifinal victory over Iowa and added the game-winner against Michigan to give the Terps the national title game.

Game Winning Goals
Junior Carla Tagliente and sophomore Caroline Walter both scored a team-high five game-winning goals this season. Tagliente scored the game-winning goal against Wake Forest (Sept. 25), James Madison (Oct. 5), Rutgers (Oct. 9), Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament (Nov. 7) and Lafayette in the NCAA Tournament (Nov. 13). Walter scored game-winners against Radford (Oct. 10), North Carolina (Oct. 23), Richmond (Nov. 1), Virginia in the ACC Tournament (Nov. 5), and Old Dominion in the NCAA Tournament (Nov. 14).

Terps Game-Winning Goals in 1999

Hohnstine Perfect in 19 Starts
Sophomore Ashley Hohnstine (Oak Hill, Va.) earned a perfect 19-0 record in 19 starts and played in 20 of Maryland's 24 victories. She did not play in Maryland's first three games or Maryland's 4-0 victory over Delaware on Sept. 21. Hohnstine allowed only five goals in six postseason games as she recorded complete game shutouts against Virginia in the ACC semifinals and a shared shutout against Lafayette in the NCAA Tournament.

Hohnstine Leads Nation
Sophomore Ashley Hohnstine led the nation in save percentage (.835) and ranked sixth in the nation in goals against average (0.64). Her goals against average ranks as the second-best single- season effort in school history. She recorded a career-high 10 saves as Maryland defeated Old Dominion on Oct.17 and allowed only four goals in 278 minutes played during the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.

Smith Among the Best
Junior Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) scored a career-high 12 goals and recorded a career-high 17 assists for a career-high 41 total points. She scored Maryland's first goal in its 2-1 victory over Michigan in the national title game on Nov. 21 and recorded an assist on the Terps' first goal against Iowa in the national semifinals. Smith scored three goals and added one assist for seven total points in the postseason as the Terps won six consecutive games.

Smith With Career-Highs
Junior Keli Smith recorded a career-high 12 goals and a career-high 17 assists for a career-high 41 total points. Her assists (17-6) and total points (41-40) this season were all more than she totaled during the first two years of her career.

Rizzo A Constant
Sophomore Dina Rizzo, who was one of six players to start all 25 games, scored five goals and added a career-high six assists. She scored the game-winning goal for the Terps in their victory over Delaware on Sept. 21. Rizzo recorded her career-high of two goals and five total points as Maryland defeated Lafayette in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament.

Defense Is Among Nation's Best
Maryland's trio of starting defenders - Lindsay Gorewtiz (Rockville, Md.), Molly Kauffman (West Lawn, Pa) and Autumn Welsh (Macungie, Pa.) helped limited Maryland's opponents to 27 goals for an average of 1.05 goals per game. The Terps recorded 10 shutouts, allowed one or fewer goals 18 times and allowed only three or more goals twice in 24 games.

Gorewitz Enjoys Strong Season
Junior Lindsay Gorewitz played in a career-high 23 games and started a career-high 22 games in 1999. She recorded her first career point with an assist against Towson on Sept. 15. Gorewitz played in more games this season (23) than she did in her first two seasons combined (21) and started more games (22) than she did as a freshman and sophomore combined (three).

Rappolt Shows Versatility
Junior Sarah Rappolt (West Chester, Pa.) displayed her versatility as one of the top reserves for the Terps during the season. She played in 21 of Maryland's 25 games. She scored one goal (against Boston University on Sept. 10) and added one assist (against Georgetown on Sept. 18) for three total points. Rappolt was inserted as Maryland's roving goalie against Delaware as the Terps defeated the Blue Hens, 4-0, on Sept. 21. In four minutes as the goalie she allowed zero goals.

Terps In Overtime
Maryland was 4-0 in overtime games during the 1999 season. The Terps clinched the regular season ACC championship with a 2-1 double overtime victory over North Carolina, won the ACC championship as they defeated Wake Forest, 2-1, in double overtime, defeated Old Dominion, 3-2 in single overtime in the NCAA quarterfinals and beat Iowa, 2-1, in double overtime in the NCAA semifinals.

Kelly Helps Terps To Title
Sophomore Megan Kelly (Gaithersburg, Md.) played in a career-high 23 games as Maryland won the 1999 NCAA championship. She scored her first career NCAA Tournament goal as the Terps defeated Lafayette, 6-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 13. The goal against Lafayette was her second of the season as she had scored earlier in the season in Maryland's 7-0 victory over Radford on Oct. 10.

Palchinsky As A Starter
Sophomore Kristy Palchinsky (Leonardtown, Md.) started the Terps' final 13 games of the season as the team marched to the 1999 NCAA championship. She scored her career-high of nine goals including the game-winner against Old Dominion on Oct. 17. Palchinsky recorded her career-high of two goals in the Terps' victory over Old Dominion and their win over Boston University on Sept. 10.

Senkler Posts Career Numbers
Sophomore Carol Senkler (Hockessin, Del.) played in a career-high tying 21 games, scored a career-high two goals and was credited with a career-high tying one assist for a career-high five total points. She started 10 games to bring her career total to 22 in years and earned her first career NCAA Tournament start against Lafayette on Nov. 13.

Klingerman A Top Freshmen
Redshirt freshman Angie Klingerman (Bloomsburg, Pa.) ranked second among freshman in goals (11) and total points (23) while playing in all 25 games during the 1999 season. She was at her best with her first career hat trick against Virginia Commonwealth on Aug. 29 and against Georgetown with her first career four-goal game on Sept. 18. She played in each of Maryland's six NCAA Tournament games and earned two starts during the season.

1999 ACC STANDINGS

National Field Hockey Coaches Assoc. Top 20
(Nov. 16, 1999)

TERPS BY THE NUMBERS

Goals

Assists

* denotes ACC record

Points

Saves

Shutouts

Save Percentage

Goals Against Average

SEASON RECORDS

Goals

Assists

Total Points

Saves

Shutouts

Goals Against Average
Minimum 490 minutes

TERPS BY THE NUMBERS

.960
Maryland won .960 percent of its games in 1999 and ranked No. 1 in the nation in winning percentage.

4
Maryland was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll for the final four weeks of the regular season.

10
Maryland had a school-record 10 players named to the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic regional All-America team.

11
Sophomore Kristy Palchinsky has started the last 11 games dating to Maryland's Oct. 5 victory over James Madison. She has played in all 25 games this season.

13
Maryland scored a school-record 13 goals against both Virginia Commonwealth (Aug. 29) and Georgetown (Sept. 18).

18
Maryland allowed one or fewer goals 18 times this season and has been credited with 10 shutouts.

19
Freshman Ashley Hohnstine has won all 19 of her starts in goal this season.

23
Maryland took a season-high 23 penalty corners against Richmond on Nov. 1 and averaged 13.5 penalty corners per game.

27
Maryland's defense allowed only 27 goals during the entire 1999 season.

67
Junior Rachel Hiskins scored a single-season school record 67 total points in 1999.

69
Juniors Keli Smith and Carla Tagliente started 69 consecutive games during their first three years as members of the Maryland team.

127
Maryland scored a school-record 127 goals this season. The Terps were ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense with a 5.08 goals per game average.

188
Missy Meharg has won 188 career games and has a career record of 188-68-9 for a .726 winning percentage.