Aug. 16, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Under the leadership of new head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, the Maryland women's soccer team reported for preseason camp last Thursday, Aug. 12, with the goal of returning to the NCAA Tournament for a record fifth season in a row. The Terps (11-11-1 in 1998) will have two more weeks of preseason action, including a home scrimmage against American on Aug. 26 at 4 p.m., before the regular season gets underway on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p .m., as the Terps travel to George Washington to open the season against Higgins-Cirovski's former school.
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1999 WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
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A29 at George Washington 1:00 p.m.
S1 UMBC 7:00 p.m.
S4 at USC 4:00 p.m.
S6 at UCLA 4:00 p.m.
Maryland FILA Tournament
S10 Pittsburgh vs. Penn 4:30 p.m.
S10 Maryland vs. Baylor 7:00 p.m.
S12 Baylor vs. Pittsburgh Noon
S12 Maryland vs. Penn 2:30 p.m.
S17 * at NC State 4:00 p.m.
S19 * at Duke 1:00 p.m.
S26 James Madison 2:00 p.m.
S29 * at Virginia 7:30 p.m.
O2 at William & Mary 4:00 p.m.
O6 at George Mason 4:00 p.m.
O8 Rutgers 7:00 p.m.
O10 Navy 7:00 p.m.
O17 * Clemson 2:00 p.m.
O22 * Wake Forest 7:00 p.m.
O25 * North Carolina 1:00 p.m.
O31 * at Florida State 2:00 p.m.
N4-7 ACC Tournament at UNC
N10 NCAA Tournament Begins
* ACC game,
all times Eastern
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It's A Family Affair
With the hiring of Higgins-Cirovski on Jan. 13, 1999, Maryland became one of a few schools in the nation to have a husband-and-wife tandem coaching two sports at the same institution. Maryland men's coach Sasho Cirovski, who has coached the Terps since 1993, has taken the men's program to new heights with last season's appearance in the national semifinals, its first since 1969.
Higgins-Cirovski comes to Maryland after coaching the United States Under-18 team, a team which she led to an undefeated record in 1998. Prior to her stint with the national team, Higgins-Cirovski coached George Washington for seven seasons, leading the Colonials to a 69-59-11 (.539) record during her tenure. She led GW to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1996, while earning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. She also earned the honor in 1994.
Higgins-Cirovski had a decorated career as a player at North Carolina, graduating in 1990. She was named Soccer America's National Player of the Year in 1988 and 1989 and consensus national Player of the Year in 1989. Over her four-year career at Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels won four national titles compiling an 89-0-6 record.
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DATES TO REMEMBER
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Dates To Remember
Aug. 12: Reporting date
Aug. 14: Practices start
Aug. 23: Media day (2-3 p.m.)
Aug. 26: Scrimmage vs. American,
4 p.m. at Maryland
Aug. 29: Regular-season opener
at George Washington, 1 p.m.
Sept. 1 : Home opener vs. UMBC,
7 p.m.
Sept. 10-12: Maryland FILA
Tournament at Ludwig Field
Oct. 25: Top-ranked North Carolina
at Maryland, 1 p.m.
Nov. 4-7: ACC Tournament at
North Carolina
Nov. 10: NCAA Tournament begins
with first-round games
Dec. 3 & 5: Women's College Cup
at San Jose, Calif.
Covering the Terps
Contact: Jason Yellin
Phone: 301-314-7062
E-mail: jyellin@wam.umd.edu
Fax:301-314-9094
umterps.com: Maryland sports news on
the World Wide Web,
updated daily.
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Media Day
The Terps' first annual soccer media day is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 23 at Ludwig Field beginning at 2 p.m. Higgins-Cirovski and men's coach Sasho Cirovski will entertain a question and answer session at 2 p.m. Players and staff will be available for photos and interviews on the Ludwig Field playing surface at approximately 2:30.
Media should contact Jason Yellin or Stephanie Mociun in the media relations office (301-314-7064) with questions or special requests.
1999 Captains Named
Higgins-Cirovski has named a trio of captains for the 1999 season. Returning as a captain for the second straight year is senior defender Emily Janss (Brandon, Fla.) The All-America candidate was an All-ACC second-team selection as both a sophomore in 1997 and junior in 1998.
Joining Janss are senior midfielder Jackie Mynarski (Somers, N.Y.) and junior goalie Ali Wolff (Richmond, Va.) Mynarski is Maryland's leading returning scorer, with five goals and five assists for 15 points in 1998. She enters the season 11th on Maryland's all-time scoring list with 34 points, tied for 10th on the all-time goals scored chart with 13 and tied for 10th in career assists with eight.
Wolff, who split time in the nets with 1998 All-ACC second-team choice Riki-Ann Serrins (Mission Viejo, Calif.) in 1998, recorded a 1.57 goals against average in 1998. Wolff started 14 games, including the Terps' second-round NCAA Tournament game against William & Mary.
Terps Play Eight Teams Ranked in NSCAA Preseason Poll
After earning a 1998 NCAA Tournament bid by virtue of a strong schedule, the Terps once again will play one of the toughest slates in the nation. Maryland will play eight teams ranked in the national preseason top 25 coaches poll. Maryland will face No. 1 North Carolina, No. 10 William & Mary, No. 12 Clemson, No. 16 UCLA, No. 17 Baylor, No. 18 Virginia, No. 23 Wake Forest and No. 24 USC. Maryland, which is not ranked in the top 25 of the preseason poll, is the third team in others receiving votes behind Alabama and 1999 opponent James Madison.
1999 ACC Preseason Poll
Teams Votes
1. North Carolina (7) 56
2. Clemson 42
3. Virginia 39
4. Wake Forest 36
5. Duke 33
6. MARYLAND 24
7. NC State 12
8. Florida State 11
