Oct. 3, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland plays the third game in a string of four consecutive home matches when the No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers come to College Park to take on the Terps this Friday night, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. Maryland will look to get back on the winning side of the ledger after dropping four of its last five games.

Despite the recent hardships, head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski has seen the Terps continue to play hard. "We have continued to battle," said the coach. "We are playing with a lot of heart. We just have to put the ball in the back of the net."

The Terps close out the homestand with a match against Howard on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Game Facts and Coverage

Game 12: No. 15 Virginia at Maryland
Date: Friday, Oct 6, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Ludwig Field (4,000), College Park, Md.

2000 Records: Maryland: 5-6-0 (0-3-0 ACC), Virginia: 5-5-0 (1-2-0 ACC)

Series History: Virginia leads 15-1-2. Last meeting: Sept. 30, 1999- Virginia 5, Maryland 0

The Coaches: Maryland: Shannon Higgins-Cirovski (85-75-12/.529 overall/9th yr., 16-16-1/.500 at Maryland/2nd yr.) Virginia: Steve Swanson (109-68-11/.609 overall/11th yr., 5-5-0/.500 at Virginia/1styr.)

Radio Coverage: Maryland: WMUC (88.1 FM) or on the Internet at www.wmuc.umd.edu. (talent: Jonathan Miller and Rishi Barran)

Records & Rankings

Maryland enters the Virginia game with a 5-6-0 overall record (0-3-0 in the ACC) after winning at Rutgers (1-0), upsetting No. 4 Penn State (3-1), and winning its last three games in home shutouts: Towson (1-0), George Washington (3-0) and George Mason (1-0). The Terps' losses have come against No. 22 Duke (2-1), Richmond (1-0), No. 19 Santa Clara (4-2), No. 6 Stanford (3-0), No. 20 Wake Forest (1-0) and NC State (1-0). Last season, Maryland was 11-10-1 and 4-2-1 in the ACC as it finished the season ranked No. 23 in the final NSCAA poll. The Terps advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year before losing to semifinalists Penn State, 3-2 in the second round.

The Terps were ranked as high as No. 9 on Sept. 4 in the NSCAA poll but are not ranked this week. They are in others receiving votes in Soccer Times.com poll for the week of Oct. 2.

Virginia is 5-5-0 this season and 1-2 in the ACC. The Cavaliers have defeated William & Mary (3-0), UAB (1-0), NC State (3-0), Santa Clara (1-0) and George Mason (4-1). They have lost to then-No. 1 North Carolina (6-1), Hartford (1-0), Stanford (3-1), Florida (3-2) and No. 2 Clemson (2-1) this past Friday.

The Cavaliers are ranked in all five polls for the week of Oct. 2. They are ranked No. 15 by the NSCAA, No. 18 by SoccerTimes.com, No. 18 by Soccer America, No. 23 by the American Soccer Writers and No. 21 by Soccer Buzz.

The Series Against Virginia

Virginia leads the all-time series with 15-1-2, dating back to the first match on Oct. 4, 1987 -- a 3-0 Cavalier win in Charlottesville. Virginia won last year's meeting, 5-0 on Sept. 30, 1999.

In the last game at Ludwig Field, Maryland won its first-ever game in the series against Virginia on Oct. 8, 1998, as Keri Sarver's goal 5:36 into the first overtime lifted Maryland to a 3-2 win over the then-ranked No. 17 Cavaliers. Sarver also scored Maryland's first goal at 6:12 to tie the game at 1-1 after Virginia's Liz Botta scored just 4:41 into the match. Maryland's Emmy Harbo sent the game to overtime at 2-2 as she scored with 18:38 left in regulation off a pass from Sarver.

Riki-Ann Serrins (Mission Viejo, Calif.) recorded the win in goal, making six saves in 95:36 of action.

Home Sweet Home

Maryland has made a habit of winning at Ludwig Field. The Terps hold a 46-15-3 record all-time in games played at Ludwig, dating to its construction in 1995. They have won 74.2 percent of the games in College Park. Maryland has won six straight non-conference games at Ludwig and eight of the last 11, overall.

Serrins Equals Shutout Mark

Senior keeper Riki-Ann Serrins moved into a tie for the all-time Maryland career record for most shutouts with 12. She tied Heather Rowe (1988-91) and Missy Price (1993-96) for the career record.

Serrins has also lowered her career goals against average to 1.31, allowing 53 goals in 3,643 minutes over 50 games in goal.

With 50 games played in goal, Serrins stands third in goalie games played. By playing against NC State, she passed teammate Ali Wolff and Rowe, who played in 49 games.

Her career GAA is third all-time at Maryland. She also ranks on the all-time saves list with 182.

Wolff, who is redshirting the 2000 season also ranks in the top five on all three lists.

Career Shutout Leaders

Career Goals Against Average

Career Saves Leaders

Goalie Games Played Leaders

Kruse Cruises In First Start

Maryland's sophomore defense got a lift from another classmate making her first start, Katie Kruse (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), who drew the nod against George Mason on Sept. 27. After fellow Buckeye native Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio) went down with a pregame warm-up injury, Kruse got the call to make her first college start just minutes before the first whistle.

Kruse played more than 80 minutes and was stellar on defense, assisting fellow sophomores Valerie Lawrence (Silver Spring, Md.) and Sally Harrison (Virginia Beach, Va.) in allowing George Mason just eight shots.

With Kruse in the starting lineup, it marked the first time Viher did not start in her college career. Viher had started all 31 games since coming to the Terps in the fall of 1999.

Playing The Best

Of the Terps' 18 regular-season opponents, 12 have been ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 at one point this season. For the week of Oct. 2, 10 of the Terps' opponents are ranked including three in the top 10: No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 North Carolina and No. 6 Penn State. Also ranked in the top 25 are No. 11 Santa Clara, No. 12 Duke, No. 13 Stanford, No. 15 Virginia, No. 20 Wake Forest and No. 22 Florida State.

"What's Up With Women's Soccer"

Maryland junior Debbie Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) has been keeping a weekly journal about the women's soccer team called "What's Up With Women's Soccer."

It is posted on Maryland's website www.umterps.com under the features section on the home page and on the women's soccer page. It has also run on ESPN.com under the College Sports button on the left hand side.

In her sixth and most recent entry, Lieberman wrote about the Terps complete effort against George Mason.

Ludwig, Poulin Honored

Freshmen Katie Ludwig (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) and Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) were named to the Stanford Nike Invitational All-Tournament team for their outstanding play.

In her second college start, Ludwig scored two goals as the Terps dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 19 Santa Clara on Sept. 15. Both of Ludwig's goals evened the game, first at 1-1 and then again at 2-2. The goals were the first two of Ludwig's collegiate career.

Poulin started both games over the weekend and play solid on both ends of the field.

Nelson Featured On ACC Live

Senior forward Julie Nelson (McLean, Va.) was featured on ACC Live, on Monday, Sept. 18. In the show's soccer spotlight, the ACC focused upon Nelson and her courageous battle with cancer. Nelson has also overcome other hardships, such as a broken back, kidney problems, and most recently she spent the summer rehabilitating from offseason reconstructive ankle surgery.

Serving as team captain for the Terrapins this season leads the team in scoring with seven points and three goals. On Sept. 12, Nelson notched her first career hat trick, in a 3-0 win over visiting George Washington.

Biscoe Lost For Year

Maryland freshman midfielder Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) will be lost for the remainder of the 2000 season with an torn ACL in her right knee. She underwent successful surgery for an isolated ACL tear on Friday, Sept. 22.

Only three days after she scored her first college goal to lift the Terps to a 1-0 win over local rival Towson on Sept. 6, Biscoe went down against Richmond on Sept. 9. She suffered the injury while playing defense in the 25th minute of the game and didn't return.

WMUC Broadcast Information

Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast eight Maryland women's soccer games in 2000. A pregame show will air approximately 30 minutes prior to kickoff. WMUC's broadcasts can be heard live on the Internet at wmuc.umd.edu.

Remaining 2000 WMUC Broadcast Schedule

Terrapin Fan Phone

For up-to-date reports, comments from coaches, and other Maryland athletic department information, phone the Terrapin Fan Phone at (301) 314-TERP.

Terps on the Web

For the latest game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please locate www. umterps.com on the Internet.

Email Straight To You

If you would like the latest Maryland women's soccer news emailed directly to you as soon as it breaks, email women's soccer contact Jason Yellin at jyellin@wam.umd.edu with the message "Women's Soccer Email" as the subject and you will receive every update distributed about the team.

2000 ACC STANDINGS

Last Week's Action

Sept. 27: NC State 3, Charlotte 0
Maryland 1, George Mason 0

Sept. 29: Santa Clara Nike Tournament
Wake Forest 2, Stanford 2
Clemson 2, Virginia 1
North Carolina 6, Duke 1
Florida State 2, Oregon State 1

Oct. 1: Santa Clara Nike Tournament
Santa Clara 4, Wake Forest 1
NC State 1, Maryland 0
Clemson 1, Richmond 0
Florida State 1, Oregon 0

This Week's Action
Oct. 3: Elon at NC State, 4 p.m.
George Washington at Virginia, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: Duke at Wake Forest, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: Virginia at Maryland, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: Clemson at Duke, 7 p.m.
Wake Forest at Florida State, 7 p.m.

TERPS IN THE POLLS
2000 NSCAA Poll (Oct. 2)

Others rec. votes: Wisconsin, Texas, Furman, Florida, Brown

2000 Am. Soccer Writers Poll (Oct. 2)

Others rec. votes: Florida, Boston College, Marquette, West Virginia, Brown, William & Mary, Harvard,
St. Louis, San Diego, Michigan, NC State, Providence, Wisconsin.

2000 Soccer America Poll (Oct. 2)

2000 Soccer Buzz Poll (Sept. 25)

2000 SoccerTimes.Com (Oct. 2)

Others rec. votes: Boston College 16, Brown 14, Florida 12, Maryland 10, Wisconsin 6, Texas 5, Harvard 3, Dartmouth 2, Furman 2, Richmond 2, Harvard 2, Michigan, Missouri 1, Purdue 1.

Week-By-Week In The Polls

Opponents In The Most Recent Polls

Season Honors

Sara Gustafson (Reisterstown, Md.) Soccer America Team of the Week (Sept. 4) Maryland Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 4)

Katie Ludwig (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) Stanford Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team

Julie Nelson (McLean, Va.) ACC Live Soccer Spotlight (Sept. 18)

Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) Stanford Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team