Nov. 3, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The third-seeded Maryland Terrapins (16-3, 2-2 ACC) notched two first-half goals and added another in the second en route to a 3-1 victory over the No. 2 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (16-3, 3-1 ACC) in the semifinal round of the 2000 ACC Field Hockey Championship on Friday.

The Terps will face the winner of the other semifinal match-up between No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 Virginia - to be held at 7 p.m. Friday - in the championship game at Maryland's Artificial Turf Facility on Sunday.

Maryland scored the first goal of the game at 20:40 of the first half, as junior Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) collected the rebound from her own shot and fired it over the Demon Deacons' goaltender. The play was set up by senior Rachel Hiskins (Victoria, Australia), who slid a pass to a streaking Rizzo. Wake Forest goaltender Jamie Tressler (Hummelstown, Pa.) made the save on Rizzo's initial shot, but the Maryland forward was able to redirect the airborne rebound past Tressler.

The Terps made it 2-0 less than three minutes later, as junior Caroline Walter (Reilingen, Germany) took a pass from senior Rachel Hiskins (Victoria, Australia) and blasted it home. The outlet pass came up the center of the field, where Walter gathered the ball and slapped it in from about 10 yards out.

Maryland's third goal came at 26:11 of the second half, as senior Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) took a feed from senior Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) and shot it between the legs of a sprawling Tressler.

The Demon Deacons made it 3-1 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, as freshman Katie Ackerman (Hummelstown, Pa.) collected a rebound off her own shot and slid it past the Maryland goaltender. Junior Ashley Hohnstine (Oak Hill, Va.) made the stop on Ackerman's first shot, but the Wake Forest forward was able to make good on her second attempt, knocking it by Hohnstine from the left side of the goal.

The Terps applied steady pressure throughout the game, recording 24 shots to Wake Forest's seven. Tressler made 11 saves for the Demon Deacons, 10 of them coming in the first half, and allowed three goals in 70 minutes. Hohnstine stopped five Wake Forest shots, allowing one goal in 70 minutes. The victory extended Maryland's postseason win streak to seven games, a streak that began at last year's ACC Tournament and continued through the Terps' run to the national championship a year ago.

"All of our players played with urgency and a sense of how we can play," said head coach Missy Meharg. "We feel confident with the style and caliber of hockey that we're playing."

Maryland (16-3, 2-2 ACC)	2  1  --  3
Wake Forest (16-3, 3-1 ACC)	0  1  --  1

GOALS: Maryland - Dina Rizzo (un), 20:40 (1st), Caroline Walter (Rachel Hiskins), 17:43 (1st), Keli Smith (Carla Tagliente), 26:11 (2nd). Wake Forest - Katie Ackerman (un), 3:47 (2nd) SHOTS: Maryland 24, Wake Forest 7. PENALTY CORNERS: Maryland 9, Wake Forest 4. SAVES: Maryland - Ashley Hohnstine (5 saves, 1 goal allowed, 70:00 minutes). Wake Forest - Jamie Tressler (11 saves, 3 goals allowed, 70:00 minutes). DEFENSIVE SAVES: Wake Forest - 1. CARDS: Maryland - Carla Tagliente (Green), 3:47 (2nd). ATTENDANCE: 675.