Sept. 21, 1999

By Kelly Hennessy
The Diamondback

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After the Terrapin women's soccer team suffered a frustrating loss to Pennsylvania on Sept. 12, a game in which the Terps outshot the Quakers, 18-5, but lost, 2-1, sophomore forward Sara Gustafson said the Terps had it in them to score goals and record wins.

After four straight losses, three of which were shutouts, her confidence was put to the test as the Terps headed into last weekend, scheduled to play their first two ACC opponents, N.C. State (4-2-1), and No. 9 Duke (5-3).

In their ACC season-opener, a 0-0 tie with N.C. State, the Terps were once again left asking themselves the question they have been asking for the past four games: Why can't we get the ball in the back of the net?

This question was finally put to rest Sunday, when the Terps (3-4-1, 1-0-1 ACC) shocked No. 9 Duke, recording a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in Durham, N.C. The win was the first in Blue Devil territory since 1995.

"This win represents a true team victory," coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski said. "It means so much to us. We practiced hard this week and had team meetings as well as individual meetings. We have had some difficulty scoring in the past, but once we got that first goal, things just started to roll."

The Terps entered Sunday's game looking to create as many offensive opportunities as possible, and hoped that their luck would change. Their prayers were quickly answered, as senior midfielder Emily Janss gave the Terps a 1-0 lead with her goal coming in the 19th minute. Duke evened the game just ten minutes later when freshman midfielder Carly Fuller beat Terp goalie Ali Wolff.

Entering the second half tied at one, the Terps took the lead once again, when Gustafson scored her first collegiate goal. But Duke answered back two minutes later, when freshman forward Jenna Turner scored, tying the game at two. Duke was able to strike again, taking their first lead of the game, off sophomore midfielder Mara Brain's goal coming at 76:18.

The Terps found themselves in a familiar situation, in need of a goal in the closing minutes of the game. Senior tri-captain Jackie Myanarksi came through in the clutch, tying the score at three with five minutes remaining in regulation.

"To be able to come back from 2-3 down, showed how much we wanted it today," Higgins-Cirovski said. "We had performances today that we haven't seen all season, and played with incredible focus throughout."

Eight minutes into the first overtime period, Gustafson scored her second goal of the game, giving the Terps their first win since Sept. 1 and their first ACC victory of the season.

"We knew we had nothing to lose coming into the game," Gustafson said. "We have had enough of losing, so we gave it all we had. This has to be the best feeling of my life, to score the winning goal in overtime, I can't even put it into words, it is just too emotional."

According to Higgins-Cirovski, the difference was a new, more offensively geared lineup. The Terps put more players up front, hoping to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.

"The formation change let us stack our offense," senior forward Julie Nelson said. "Our strength in the midfield made a major difference today."

Another important ingredient was the level of mental focus that the Terps have lacked in their past five games.

"More than even before, we were able to stay mentally focused throughout the entire game," freshman forward Valerie Lawrence said. "All three coaches have been telling us how important the mental aspect of the game is since the beginning of the season, and we finally realized what it takes to apply it in the game."

According to Gustafson, this win takes a lot of pressure off the team, and has given the Terps a renewed confidence.

"We wanted this win so bad, we said if we weren't going to do it for ourselves, then at least lets do it for each other," Gustafson said. "We said, 'Let's do it because we love each other and we love playing soccer, and because we are lucky enough to get to be playing every day.'"