Aug. 24, 2000

College Park, Md. - Three Maryland athletic teams held their own version of media day today when the coaches and players from the Terrapin men's soccer, women's soccer and field hockey teams met the media before their seasons begin this weekend.

Both the men's and women's soccer teams donned new uniforms for the occasion, with Sasho Cirovski's men's soccer team sporting its road-red and his wife, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, and her women's soccer squad wearing their new home whites.

Numerous print and television media greeted all three teams, with almost two hours of questions between the teams. Sasho Cirovski highlighted his anticipation for the upcoming men's soccer season to reporters saying, "We're going to be a little different this year than in past years. We're what I'd like to think of as blue collar. We have a lot of skill, and I think we're going to get after it a little more mentally, too." The Terrapins open with preseason action this weekend, Aug. 25 and 26, in the Maryland/FILA Preseason College Kick-off. Georgetown, No. 15 St. John's and No. 10 Virginia join the No. 16 Terps on Ludwig Field for two days worth of doubleheaders. Games begin at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

The No. 23 women's soccer team had a great time at media day as many players were interviewed in anticipation of the team's first regular season game this Friday, Aug. 25, at Rutgers. "This is great exposure for the program," said head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski. "To have all this coverage can really help. We have a lot of great stories. Our senior captains Julie Nelson, Vita McKenna and Ali Wolff are great stories and we have several freshman which will make an immediate impact in Audra Poulin, Jen Biscoe and Katie Ludwig."

Local Terps Valerie Lawrence (Silver Spring, Md.), Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) and Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) were the most popular requests for interviews with the media. Julie Nelson (McLean, Va.), Sara Gustafson (Reisterstown, Md.) and Vita McKenna (Burlington, Ontario) will also be featured by some of the outlets.

After the men's and women's soccer teams departed for practice, media day moved to the turf field to look in on Maryland's reigning division I field hockey champions. Head coach Missy Meharg was happy to see the turnout and enjoyed the attention that her seniors in attendance were getting. "It just shows an appreciation of the level of athleticism and a style of play that this team deserves. It's a good time to be a Maryland field hockey fan and I'm happy for our seniors." The Terrapin Field hockey teams opens up this weekend when they host Connecticut at 1 p.m. on the turf field.