October 19, 1998
By CHRIS BEAVEN Repository sports writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jackson graduate Keri Sarver holds the record for most career goals, assists and points and other single-season marks for the women's soccer team at Maryland.
High-profile programs with winning traditions beckoned Keri Sarver when she graduated from Jackson High School in 1994 as one of the nation's top prep soccer players.
North Carolina, then an 11-time national champion, came calling for Sarver. So did final four regulars Notre Dame and Connecticut.
The nation's elite wanted Sarver to choose them.
Instead, Sarver chose the University of Maryland -- a 7-year-old program at the time that had never won more than a game in its own league.
It was one of the best choices ever made by Sarver.
Three NCAA Tournament appearances later the Terrapins are now firmly entrenched as one of the nation's top 25 programs and Sarver is a big reason why.
Sarver, a senior forward who redshirted in 1994, ranks at the top of Maryland's career lists for goals, assists and total points; holds several of the Terps' single-game and single-season records; and is moving up the top 10 lists in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
And believe it or not, this is exactly what Sarver hoped to accomplish.
"The other three programs that recruited me were already elite programs," Sarver said recently in a telephone interview. "I could have gone in there and just stepped in as part of their tradition.
"But we've kind of made the history and tradition here at Maryland. We were the pioneers and that was our goal. We're very proud of what we've done and hope to do the rest of this season."
This season has already been an interesting one for Sarver and her teammates. The Terps entered the season ranked in two major polls before falling out of the rankings by losing three of their first four matches.
They then turned things around with a five-game winning streak during which Sarver went on a scoring binge that produced nine goals. Maryland is now ranked 24th and took an 8-4-1 record into the weekend.
"After that start, each player had to look deep inside themselves to see what they had to do better individually to improve the team," said Sarver, who had to step up in two areas. "One of my biggest roles on the team is to score goals and I had to do a better job of finishing on my scoring chances," Sarver said. "I had to find ways to score. My other big role is as as a team leader. I had to make sure that we were playing as a cohesive unit. I had to become more vocal."
The result is Maryland won seven of its next nine games and Sarver is in the midst of her finest season individually. Sarver's season totals with seven regular season games left are 15 goals and seven assists for 37 points. She is now Maryland's career record holder in points (143), goals (55), assists (33), shots (249), games played (88) and game-winning goals (15).
"Personally, it is satisfying," Sarver said of her records. "But it's something to look at more when the season is over. Then it will be great to reflect on. Right now, I'm worrying about helping the team."
And it's team goals that Sarver is aiming for.
"We want to be peaking at the end of the season in preparation of the NCAA Tournament," Sarver said. "We want to go further than we've ever gone before. Our goal is to be in the Final Four."
Maryland's longest stay in the tournament is three games in 1996, one win shy of the Final Four.
"We've got seven seniors and this is our last chance to play at this level together," Sarver said. "We want this to be our best year and we're doing everything possible to do that."
With her collegiate career drawing to a close, Sarver's playing future beyond Maryland is up in the air.
In August, Sarver was selected to the U.S. Amateur National team, which is in essence the National B team. She would love to one day play for the U.S. National team in the Olympics or World Cup, but she realizes that could be a few years away.
To stay sharp, Sarver said she would consider playing in leagues in Japan or Europe, but playing in the U.S. is her first option. The top American women's league is the United States Women's Independent Soccer League, a semi-pro type league, which Sarver played in last summer for the Cleveland Eclipse.
Sarver also will graduate in the spring with a degree in computer science, giving her options outside of soccer. But not playing soccer at a high level is tough for her to imagine.
"Soccer has been such a big part of my life for so long," Sarver said. "I've developed myself as a person through soccer and it would be real hard to just let it go."
Whatever choices she does make about her future, Sarver is certain of one choice she made five years ago.
"Looking back now, coming to Maryland was still the best choice for me," Sarver said. "If I went to the other schools, I'd probably have a ring. They've all made a Final Four. But what we've done here is special. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."
