December 1, 1998

COLLEGE PARK, Md.
-- With the youngest team in the ACC and one of the youngest teams in school history, Maryland (16-6, 3-1 ACC) captured its second-ever ACC championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

TERPS DETHRONE NORTH CAROLINA, UPSET VIRGINIA TO WIN SECOND-EVER ACC CROWN
Maryland captured its first ACC championship since 1992 as it won a pair of overtime contests at the ACC Tournament in Charlottesville, Va. The Terps defeated five-time defending ACC champion North Carolina 2-1 in penalty strokes in the semifinals. In the finals, Maryland upset top-seeded and host Virginia 1-0 in single overtime. Senior back Jen Pratt (Greene, N.Y.) was named the ACC Tournament MVP and joined sophomore goalie Angela Platt (Coleraine, Northern Ireland) and freshman midfielder Caroline Walter (Reilingen, Germany) on the All-ACC Tournament Team.

PRATT, TAGLIENTE, SMITH NAMED ALL-AMERICA
Senior back Jen Pratt, sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) and sophomore forward Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America teams. Pratt and Tagliente received first-team honors while Smith was named to the second team. Pratt became just the fifth Maryland player to earn All-America honors at least three times during their collegiate career. She was named to the third team in 1996 and the second team last season. Pratt joins former Terps Kim Turner (1985-88), Jessica Wilk (1986-88), Amy Schubert (1991-93) and Christine DeBow (1995-97), all of whom earned All-America honors at least three times during their careers. Tagliente earned All-America honors for the second straight season. She was named to the third team last year. Smith was an All-American for the first time.

HEISER, WOLF, WARD AND TAGLIENTE NAMED TO NFHCA NATIONAL ACADEMIC SQUAD
Senior forward Kasey Heiser (Schafferstown, Pa.), senior midfielder Ellen Wolf (Wyomissing, Pa.), junior forward Emily Ward (Ellicott City, Md.) and sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. In order to be named to the squad, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 and have earned playing time during the most recent season. Heiser and Ward made the squad for the third time in their careers, Wolf earned her second appearance and Tagliente made the squad for the first time.

FIVE TERPS NAMED TO MID ATLANTIC REGION ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Senior back Jen Pratt, sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente, sophomore forward Keli Smith, sophomore back Molly Kauffman (West Lawn, Pa.) and freshman back Autumn Welsh (Macungie, Pa.) were named to the Mid Atlantic Region All-America teams. Pratt, Tagliente and Smith made the first team, while Kauffman and Welsh made the second team. Pratt earned Mid Atlantic Region All-America honors for the fourth straight year, Tagliente and Smith earned the honor for the second straight year, while Kauffman and Welsh were Mid Atlantic Region All-America selections for the first time.

PRATT, SMITH NAMED TO ALL-ACC TEAM
Senior back Jen Pratt and sophomore forward Keli Smith were named to the All-ACC team. Pratt made her second consecutive appearance on the team while Smith earned All-ACC honors for the first time.

MEHARG NAMED ACC COACH OF THE YEAR
Maryland head coach Missy Meharg was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the third time in her career. She also earned the award in 1992 and 1995. Through 11 seasons at Maryland, Meharg has compiled a record of 162-67-9 (.709). She has led the Terps to the NCAA title in 1993 and to the ACC title in 1992 as well as this season.

WELSH NAMED ACC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Freshman back Autumn Welsh was named the 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year. She is the second straight Maryland player to win award, with sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente being named the ACCs top rookie in 1997.

GROWING UP FAST
What makes the Terps 1998 accomplishments all the more impressive is that they had only two upperclassmen in their starting lineup on a consistent basis this season and only three returning starters from last season. Senior back Jen Pratt and senior forward Kasey Heiser were the only upperclassmen who were consistently in Marylands starting lineup. Pratt, sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente and sophomore forward Keli Smith were the only returning starters from the 1997 squad. Maryland had only four upperclassmen on the team this season, including Pratt, Heiser, senior midfielder Ellen Wolf and junior forward Emily Ward.

PRATT ENDS SEASON AS ACCs ALL-TIME ASSIST LEADER
Senior back Jen Pratt became the ACCs all-time assist leader on Oct. 4, when she recorded her 59th career assist. That broke the record of 58, which was set by Joy Driscoll of North Carolina (1994-97). Pratt ended her collegiate career with 71 assists, which set both the Maryland and ACC records. In 1997, she tallied an NCAA-leading 33 assists, which broke the Maryland single-season assist records.

TAGLIENTE LEADS TERPS IN GOALS AND TOTAL POINTS
After two seasons, sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente has already become one of the Terps most prolific scorers ever. Her 36 career goals is the seventh-highest total in school history and her 86 career points is already the 11th best total. This season, she led the Terps with 17 goals and 41 points. Taglientes 17 goals tied for the seventh-best single-season total in Maryland history and her 41 points tied for the 10th-best single-season total. Four of her goals this season were game-winners, two of which came in sudden-death overtime.

A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR SMITH
Sophomore forward Keli Smith, who has started every game during her two years at Maryland, finished second on the team with 10 goals this season, was named to the All-ACC team, was a first-team Mid Atlantic Region All-America selection and was a second-team All-America selection. Smith turned in a pair of two-goal performances this season and was named the ACC Player of the Week for Sept. 1-7. Through two years, she has scored 17 goals and has compiled 40 points.

MEHARG BECOMES TERPS ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Maryland head coach Missy Meharg became the Terps all-time winningest coach on Sept. 20, when her squad defeated Massachusetts 3-0. In the process, Meharg recorded her 154th victory at Maryland, which broke the record set by former Terp coach Sue Tyler, who won 153 games from 1974-87. In her 11 seasons at the helm, Meharg has compiled a record of 164-67-9. She has Maryland to the 1993 NCAA title, the 1995 NCAA finals, the 1991 NCAA semifinals and to a pair of ACC titles (1992 and 1998). Under Mehargs guidance, the Terps have reached the NCAA Tournament nine times. She has been named the ACC Coach of the Year three times (1992, 1995 and 1998) and the NCAA Coach of the Year twice (1991 and 1995).

ON A TEAR
From Oct. 11-Nov. 8 of this season, Maryland won nine consecutive games, including both of its games in the ACC Tournament. The Terps nine consecutive victories was the fifth-best winning streak in school history. In 1993, Maryland won a school-record 15 straight games. The Terps won 11 consecutive games in 1997 and 10 straight contests in both 1987 and 1991. Maryland also went 11-0-2 over a 13-game stretch in 1979 and 9-0-2 over an 11-game stretch in 1985.

WORKING OVERTIME
Maryland won all four of its games this season that went into sudden-death overtime, including both games in the ACC Tournament. Senior Jen Pratt scored the winning goal in the penalty stroke series, giving the Terps a 2-1 victory over North Carolina in the ACC semifinals on Nov. 6. Sophomore back Rachel Hiskins scored the championship-clinching goal as the Terps beat Virginia 1-0 on Nov. 8 in the ACC finals. On Sept. 5, the Terps defeated then No. 11 Michigan 2-1 in double overtime on a goal by sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente. On Oct. 18, Maryland defeated then No. 18 Boston University 5-4 in single overtime on another game-winning goal by Tagliente. Marylands four overtime victories this season breaks the program record for the most overtime wins in a season. In 1982, 1985 and 1993, the Terps went 2-0 in overtime games.

TERPS BY THE NUMBERS IN 1998

2
The Terps won their second ACC championship. Their last conference title came in 1992.

2
Freshman back Autumn Welsh became the second straight Terp to be named the ACC Rookie of the Year. In 1997, sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente won the award.

3
Three Maryland players (Jen Pratt, Carla Tagliente and Keli Smith) were All-America selections.

3
Missy Meharg was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the third time in her career. She also earned the honor in 1992 and 1995.

4
Maryland won a school-record four overtime games this season. Included among its four overtime victories were its victories in the semifinals and finals of the ACC Tournament.

4
Four Terps (Carla Tagliente, Kasey Heiser, Ellen Wolf and Emily Ward) were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad.

5
Senior back Jen Pratt became just the fifth Maryland player to be named All-America at least three times during their playing career.

5
Five Maryland players (Jen Pratt, Carla Tagliente, Keli Smith, Molly Kauffman and Autumn Welsh) were named Mid Atlantic Region All-America.

71
With 71 career assists, Jen Pratt ended the season as the ACCs all-time assist leader.

164
With 164 coaching victories, Missy Meharg is now the all-time winningest head coach in the history of the Maryland field hockey program.

TERPS FINISH 5-2 AGAINST ACC OPPONENTS
Including postseason games, Marylands 5-2 record against ACC teams this season was its best effort since it went 7-1 in 1993. What makes the Terps record all the more impressive is that all five ACC teams finished the season ranked in the NFHCA poll. Virginia was the number two team and advanced to the NCAA semifinals. North Carolina was the fourth-ranked team and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. Duke was ranked No. 13 and Wake Forest was ranked No. 20.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Maryland had eight players on its roster who have competed on the international level and two other players who could soon join them. Sophomore midfielder Carla Tagliente and sophomore midfielder Keli Smith were both alternates to this years U.S. World Cup team and were members of this years U.S. Under-23 team. Tagliente was also a member of the 1997 U.S. National Team. Senior back Jen Pratt was a member of the 1997 U.S. Under-21 team. Sophomore Molly Kauffman and freshmen Autumn Welsh and Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) were all on the this years U.S. Under-19 team. Sophomore Angela Platt was a member of the Irish Under-21 team in 1997 and freshman Caroline Walter was a member of this years German Under-21 team. In addition, sophomore back Lindsay Gorewitz (Rockville, Md.) and freshman midfielder Megan Kelly (Gaithersburg, Md) have been invited to this years USFHA (United States Field Hockey Association) A Camp, which is the official tryout for players being considered for one of the U.S. national teams. A Camp is held the final week of December each year.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Terps finished the 1998 regular season with an 11-0 record in home games. It marked the fourth time in school history that Maryland went undefeated at home during a regular season. Each time Maryland has finished the regular season unbeaten at home, it has won either an ACC or NCAA title. The Terps finished with a 9-0 home record in 1987 and a 10-0 home record in 1993. Both years, they went on to win the NCAA title. In 1992, Maryland finished with a home record of 8-0-1 and went on to win the ACC Tournament.

A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Maryland recorded nine shutouts this season and held five other opponents to only one goal. Its most important shutout was its 1-0 overtime victory over Virginia in the ACC finals on Nov. 8. In addition, the Terps did not allow a goal for the final 95 minutes against North Carolina in the ACC semifinals on Nov. 6. Sophomore goalies Angela Platt and Zoe Ehrlich (Morristown, N.J.) led Marylands defensive charge. Platt registered four solo shutouts and shared the other five with Ehrlich. Platts most impressive performance came in the Terps 2-1 double-overtime victory over then No. 11 Michigan on Sept. 5, as she recorded a season-best 15 saves. Eight of Platts saves against the Wolverines came in the first sudden-death overtime period. Ehrlichs best performance of the season came in the Terps 8-0 season-opening win over Richmond on Sept. 2, as she made eight saves in 35 minutes of play.

COMING INTO THEIR OWN
Last season, senior Kasey Heiser and sophomore backs Molly Kauffman and Sarah Rappolt (West Chester, Pa.) all played in reserve roles. This year, however, they each flourished in their first year as full-time starters. Heiser scored eight goals and recorded 20 total points. Her most impressive performance came when she scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the Terps 3-2 victory over then ninth-ranked James Madison on Oct. 25. Kauffman finished second on the team with 16 assists and third with 30 total points. She was named to the Mid Atlantic Region All-America second team at the conclusion of the season. Rappolt helped bolster a backfield that shutout nine opponents this season. She also scored twice and made three defensive saves.

MAKING AN IMPACT
Even though they had the youngest team in the ACC, Maryland had a successful season in large part because several newcomers came through for the team. Sophomore back Rachel Hiskins (Victoria, Australia), who started every game, scored the winning goal against Virginia in the ACC finals and the crucial game-tying goal against North Carolina in the ACC semifinals. Freshman back Caroline Walter led all newcomers this season with nine goals and 13 assists. She assisted on both of Hiskinss clutch goals in the ACC Tournament. Sophomore Angela Platt recorded 6.5 total shutouts this season and did not allow a goal in the final 185 minutes of the ACC Tournament. Freshman midfielder Megan Kelly (Gaithersburg, Md.) scored the game-winning goal in the Terps 1-0 win over Wake Forest on Sept. 26. Freshman back Autumn Welsh scored the game-winning goal in the Terps 2-0 win over then No. 16 American on Sept. 19 and was one of the Terps top defenders during the final two months of the season. Freshman forward Dina Rizzo started in 17 games and scored six goals, while freshman midfielder Carol Senkler (Hockessin, Del.) started in 12 games, scored a goal and tallied an assist.

1998 ACC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1-7: KELI SMITH, MARYLAND.
Sept. 8-14: Michelle Vizzuso, Virginia.
Sept. 15-21: Nienke van Ruiten, W. Forest.
Sept. 22-28: Nicole Frey, N. Carolina.
Sept. 29-Oct. 4: Meredith Elwell, Virginia.
Oct. 5-11: CARLA TAGLIENTE, MARYLAND.
Oct. 12-18: Meredith Thrope, Virginia.
Oct. 19-25: Nancy Pelligreen, N. Carolina.
Oct. 26-Nov. 1: Michelle Vizzuso, Virginia.

1998 ACC TOURNAMENT First Round Byes: Virginia, MARYLAND, North Carolina.
First Round (Nov. 5): Wake Forest 3, Duke 2 (OT).
Semifinals (Nov. 6): MARYLAND 2, North Carolina 1 (penalty strokes). Virginia 1, Wake Forest 0.
Finals (Nov. 8): MARYLAND 1, Virginia 0 (OT).

1998 NCAA TOURNAMENT
First Round Byes: Old Dominion, Princeton, Connecticut, MARYLAND.
First Round (Nov. 14): North Carolina 5, Northeastern 0. Virginia 4, Kent 2. Boston College 3, New Hampshire 2. Penn State 1, Massachusetts 0.
Quarterfinals (Nov. 15): Old Dominion 7, North Carolina 2. Virginia 5, MARYLAND 1. Connecticut 3, Boston College 0. Princeton 3, Penn State 1.
Semifinals (Nov. 20): Old Dominion 3, Virginia 1. Princeton 4, Connecticut 1.
Finals (Nov. 22): Old Dominion 3, Princeton 2.

MARYLAND HONORS

All-ACC Team: Jen Pratt, Keli Smith.
All-ACC Tournament Team: Jen Pratt, Caroline Walter, Angela Platt.
ACC Tournament MVP: Jen Pratt.
ACC Coach of the Year: Missy Meharg
ACC Rookie of the Year: Autumn Welsh.
Mid Atlantic Region All-America: Jen Pratt (first team), Carla Tagliente (first team), Keli Smith (first team), Molly Kauffman (second Team), Autumn Welsh (second team).
All-America: Jen Pratt (first team), Carla Tagliente (first team), Keli Smith (second team).
NFHCA National Academic Squad: Carla Tagliente, Kasey Heiser, Ellen Wolf, Emily Ward.

PLAYER PROFILES
#1 ANGELA PLATT
A sophomore goalie from Coleraine, Northern Ireland, Platt transferred to Maryland prior to this season and was the starting goalie in all but one game. She recorded four solo shutouts, including the 1-0 overtime victory over Virginia in the ACC finals, and shared five other shutouts with Zoe Ehrlich. She was named to the All-ACC Tournament team. Platts most impressive performance, however, was a 15-save effort in the Terps 2-1 double-overtime victory over then No. 11 Michigan on Sept 5.

#2 LINDSAY GOREWITZ
A sophomore back from Rockville, Md., Gorewitz saw an increased role in her second season on the team. She cracked the starting lineup during the Terps toughest part of the schedule in early October and has played in all but five games. Gorewitz been invited to the United States Field Hockey Associations (USFHA) A Camp in December, where she will seek to make her first appearance on one of the U.S. national teams.

#3 AUTUMN WELSH
A freshman back from Macungie, Pa., Welsh was one of the Terps top defenders. She cracked the starting lineup midway through September and was part of a defense that shut out nine opponents during the season. Welsh was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and was a second-team Mid-Atlantic Region All-America selection. Offensively, she scored two goals and added an assist

#4 CARLA TAGLIENTE
A sophomore midfielder from Cortland, N.Y., Tagliente led the Terps with 17 goals, 41 points and four game-winning goals. She also tied for the team lead with three multiple goal games. Tagliente was named first-team All-America, first-team Mid Atlantic Region All-America and was selected to the NFHCA National Academic Team. Her 36 career goals is the seventh-best effort in school history.

#5 EMILY WARD
A junior forward from Ellicott City, Md., Ward saw an increased role on the team this season. She cracked the starting lineup four times and played in all but six games. In Marylands final three regular season games, Ward scored a goal and tallied an assist. She was named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad at the conclusion of the season. Ward has been named to the ACC Honor Roll the past three years, having redshirted in 1995.

#6 RACHEL HISKINS
A sophomore back from Victoria Australia, Hiskins transferred to Maryland prior to this season and turned in a clutch performance at the ACC Tournament. She scored the championship-winning goal against Virginia in the ACC finals, as well as the game-tying goal in the Terps 2-1 penalty-stroke victory over North Carolina in the ACC semifinals. Hiskins started in all 22 games this season.

#7 ZOE EHRLICH
A sophomore goalie from Morristown, Pa., Ehrlich has shared five shutouts this season with sophomore Angela Platt. Her best performance this season was a scoreless 35 minutes against Richmond on Sept. 2, as she recorded a career-high eight saves. Ehrlich has now recorded 4.5 total shutouts during her career. She has been named to the ACC Honor Roll the past two years, having redshirted in 1996.

#8 CAROLINE WALTER
A freshman midfielder from Reilingen, Germany, Walter started in every game this season and led all Terp newcomers with nine goals, 13 assists and 31 points. She assisted on Rachel Hiskinss winning-goal in the ACC finals against Virginia and on the game-tying goal against North Carolina in the ACC semifinals. Walter recorded three multiple goal games this season, including a three-goal outburst against Temple on Oct. 23.

# 9 JEN PRATT
A senior back from Greene, N.Y., Pratt led the Terps with 18 assists this season and is the ACCs all-time leader with 71 career assists. She was named first-team All-America, first-team Mid Atlantic Region All-America, All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament and was named the ACC Tournament MVP. Pratt scored the winning goal in Marylands 2-1 penalty stroke win over North Carolina in the ACC semifinals. She is currently sixth on the Terps all-time list with 101 career points.

#10 MOLLY KAUFFMAN
A sophomore back from West Lawn, Pa., Kauffman was second on the team with 16 assists and third with 30 points. At the conclusion of the season, she was a second-team Mid Atlantic Region All-America selection. 1998 was her first year as a full-time starter after playing in a reserve role last season. Kauffman has been a member of the U.S. Under-19 team the past two years.

#13 KELI SMITH
A sophomore forward from Selinsgrove, Pa., Smith finished second on the team with 10 goals. She was named to the All-ACC team, was a first-team Mid Atlantic Region All-America selection as well as a second-team All-America selection. Smith was named the ACC Player of the Week for Sept. 1-7. She was an alternate to the U.S. World Cup team this past summer and was also a member of the 1998 U.S. Under-23 team.

#14 SARAH RAPPOLT
A sophomore back from West Chester, Pa., Rappolt started in every game for the Terps this season. She scored twice and has recorded two defensive saves. At The Tower Hill School, she was high school teammates with current Terp Carol Senkler.

#15 CAROL SENKLER
A freshman midfielder from Hockessin, Del., Senkler started in 11 games in her first season at Maryland. In the final three regular season games, she scored a goal and tallied an assist. Senkler was awarded an academic scholarship by Maryland last spring. She was on the same high school team (Tower Hill) as Sarah Rappolt.

#16 MEGAN KELLY
A freshman midfielder from Gaithersburg, Md., Kelly rebounded from a midseason stress fracture that kept her out of action for six games. She scored three goals this season, including the game-winning goal in the Terps 1-0 win over Wake Forest on Sept. 26. Kelly has been invited to this years USFHA A Camp in December, where she will attempt to make her first appearance on one of the U.S. national teams.

#17 KASEY HEISER
A senior forward from Schaefferstown, Pa., Heiser made the most of her first season as a full-time starter. She was fourth on the team with eight goals and sixth with 20 points. Heiser recorded two multiple-goal games this season, including a pair of critical goals in the Terps 3-2 win over ninth-ranked James Madison on Oct. 25. She was named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Heiser has also been named to the ACC Honor Roll the past three years.

#18 ELLEN WOLF
A senior midfielder from Wyomissing, Pa., Wolf played in all but four games this season and started once. She has been one of the Terps top reserves the past four years. Wolf was named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad for the second consecutive year. She has also been named to the ACC Honor Roll the past three years.

#21 KRISTY PALCHINSKY
A freshman back from Leondardtown, Md., Palchinsky rebounded from a leg injury that kept her out of action until late September. Since returning, she has seen action in six games. Palchinsky redshirted last season.

#22 DINA RIZZO
A freshman forward from Walpole, Mass., Rizzo scored six goals and recorded 13 total points. In the last seven games regular season games, she scored four times. Rizzo has been a member of the U.S. Under-19 team the past two years.