May 10, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland field hockey coach Missy Meharg announced the signing of three high school seniors to national letters of intent who will begin play with the defending national champions in the fall of 2000. Catherine Rogers (Watertown, Mass/Watertown), Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood) and Courtney Thornton (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) will be contributing players for the Terps, who are also the two-time defending ACC champions.

"These three athletes will all develop quickly as players and been in position to have an impact on daily training," said Meharg. "They will all be impact players and critical performers in the future of the Terrapin program. These athletes are tremendous and can only help put us in position to compete again for a national championship."

A member of the U.S. Under-19 team who attended the national A-Camp during her senior year, Rogers was a 1999 high school All-American first-team selection. She is versatile player who will instantly add depth to the midfield and forward positions

"Catherine is one of only a handful of freshmen nationally with the ability to contribute immediately to this year's Maryland team," said Meharg. "She is a tremendous athlete who is very aggressive. We will use her tremendous abilities to strengthen our attack."

Silvetti is another player Meharg expects to be a major addition to our defense. She was an All-America first team selection following her senior season and a two-time all state first team selection during her prep career. Silvetti scored 26 goals and added 12 assists as a senior.

"Sara is a very stable player, who like [current Terp] Rachel Hiskins, has the ability to see the whole field and be a field general," said Meharg. "She will be an impact player during her entire career at Maryland."

Thornton, a recipient of a prestigious Banneker/Key academic scholarship at Maryland, could prove to be one of the team's fastest and most powerful players. She earned all-state and All-Anne Arundel County first team honors by the Annapolis Capital and Baltimore Sun following her senior season. Thornton was named to the Maryland State High School Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State team in 1998 and 1999 and was an All-Anne Arundel County second team selection in lacrosse by the Capital and the Sun.

"Courtney is an athletic individual who has been a three-sport athlete throughout her high school career and will be given the opportunity to focus on one sport, which is exciting," said Meharg. "She is very coachable and could be one of the most powerful females to play field hockey here at Maryland."

Meharg was named the national Coach of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association after leading the Terps to the national and ACC championships in 1999. The Terps won a school record 24 games, closed the season on a school-record 22-game winning streak and set the school record with a winning percentage of 96.0.