Nov. 1, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Riding a six game unbeaten streak (5-0-1), the Maryland women's soccer team (10-4-2 overall) heads to Florida State to close out the 2001 regular-season with a lot riding on the match. The Terps, who are 3-3 in the ACC, can finish anywhere from third to sixth in the league depending on the outcome of Friday's game with the Seminoles and the match between Virginia and Wake Forest in Charlottesville, Va., on Friday. Heading into the action, the Terps are tied with Florida State and Wake Forest, who are also 3-3. Virginia stands in second place with a 4-2 record and Clemson has finished its ACC season at 4-3. North Carolina has locked up the No. 1 seed and Duke is locked in at No. 7, while NC State will be No. 8.
With a Maryland win over FSU and a Virginia win over Wake, the Terps would be seeded third as they would finish in a tie with Clemson at 4-3. But, with Maryland's regular-season win over Clemson on Oct. 13, the Terps would get the tie-breaker and place third. Both Florida State and Wake Forest would then finish 3-4, but Wake would finish fifth by virtue of its 4-2 win over the Seminoles on Oct. 20. That would set up a second straight matchup between Maryland and Florida State on the heels of the regular-season finale, in the first round of the ACC Tournament next Thursday in Winston-Salem.
With a Maryland win over FSU and a Wake win over Virginia, the Terps, Deacons, Cavaliers and Tigers would all be 4-3. The Terps would finish fifth by virtue of tie breakers behind No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Wake Forest and No. 4 Virginia. That would set up a Maryland-Virginia match in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The ACC uses a head-to-head system among all the teams which are tied. The records against the other three teams would be as follows with Maryland and Wake Forest wins on Friday: Clemson (2-1, wins over Wake Forest and Virginia, loss to Maryland), Wake Forest (2-1, wins over Maryland and Virginia, loss to Clemson), Virginia (1-2, win over Maryland, losses to Clemson and Wake Forest), Maryland (1-2, win over Clemson, losses to Wake Forest and Virginia). Clemson and Virginia would get the No. 2 and No. 4 seeds based on head-to-head wins over the team they would be tied with in the tie-breaker system. Florida State would be No. 6.
With a Maryland win over FSU and a tie between Virginia-Wake, the Terps would be seeded third as they would finish in a tie with Clemson at 4-3. But, with Maryland's regular-season win over Clemson on Oct. 13, the Terps would get the tie-breaker and place third. Virginia would finish 4-2-1 and be the No. 2 seed, Maryland would be No. 3, Clemson No. 4, Wake Forest would be No. 5 at 3-3-1 and Florida State would be No. 6 at 3-4. The Terps would play No. 6 Florida State in the ACCs.
If the Terps were to lose to Florida State, they would finish at 3-4 and be sixth no matter what else happened in the other game. The Terps would not hold any tie-breakers at that point. Then with a Virginia win over Wake Forest the Cavaliers would be No. 2 at 5-2, Florida State would be No. 3 at 4-3 (holding a tie-breaker with a 3-2 win over Clemson), Clemson would be No. 4 and Wake Forest would be No. 5. Maryland would play Florida State in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
A Terp loss and a Wake Forest win over Virginia would create a four-way tie for second and Clemson would get the No. 2 seed with 2-1 record among the teams, Wake Forest would be No. 3 also with a 2-1 record, but the loss coming to Clemson, Virginia would be No. 4 with a 1-2 record, but a win coming over Maryland, who would be No. 5. Maryland would play the Cavaliers.
A Terp loss and a tie between Wake and Virginia would set the seedings this way: No. 2 Virginia (4-2-1), No. 3 Florida State (4-3), No. 4 Clemson (4-3), No. 5 Wake Forest (3-3-1) and No. 6 Maryland (3-4). That would set up Maryland vs. Florida State in the ACC first round.
* A tie between Maryland and FSU and a tie between Wake Forest and Virginia would set the seedings like this: No. 2 Virginia (4-2-1), No. 3 Clemson (4-3), No. 4 Florida State (3-3-1), No. 5 Wake Forest (3-3-1) and No. 6 Maryland (3-3-1). The Terps would play Clemson.
A tie between Maryland and FSU and a win by Virginia over Wake would set the seedings this way: No. 2 Virginia (5-2), No. 3 Clemson (4-3), the No. 4 and No. 5 spots would be occupied by Maryland and Florida State and the high seed would be based on goal difference total in ACC matches, because the first two tie-breakers would be even. No. 6 would be Wake Forest (3-4). Maryland would play Florida State.
A tie between Maryland and FSU and a win by Wake Forest over Virginia would set the seedings this way: based on tie-breakers No. 2 Clemson (4-3), No. 3 Wake Forest (4-3), No. 4 Virginia (4-3) and again the No. 5 and No. 6 spot would be tied between Maryland and Florida State and the higher seed would be based on goal differential including the final game.
Terps Break Back Into Rankings
After a small hiatus, the Maryland women's soccer team is nationally ranked again this week. The Terps are No. 20 in the Soccer America poll and No. 21 in the Soccer Buzz poll. The Terps are also listed among teams in others receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll. Maryland was ranked No. 14 earlier this year in the NSCAA poll.
Florida State is ranked No. 24 in the Soccer Buzz poll and No. 21 in the SoccerTimes.com poll. They are also listed among teams receiving votes in the NSCAA poll.
Maryland take on one of the toughest schedules facing four teams in the NSCAA poll (No. 1 North Carolina, No. 10 Clemson, No. 15 Virginia and No. 24 Wake Forest). Opponents Florida State, Rutgers and Duke are also listed in other polls.
Terps Eye NCAA Bid
With its wins over William & Mary, Rutgers and NC State, Maryland has nearly assured itself of an NCAA Tournament bid. It would be the Terps' sixth bid in seven years. Coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski feels strongly about the Terps chances with the field expanded to 64 teams in 2001.
"I feel very good about our chances to get into the NCAA Tournament now," she said after the Rutgers match. "I think with this win (Rutgers), the win over William & Mary, the win over Clemson and even though Duke's not doing well, I think that's a good win. Most people still consider it a good win. The strength of our schedule, I think they'll consider that. And I think it solidifies, unless we go on an absolute landslide, it solidifies that we are going to stay in the top five in our region."
The Maryland-Florida State Series
The Terps and Seminoles have met six previous times, once each season dating back to 1995, when Florida State's team became varsity. Maryland leads the overall series, 5-1, outscoring FSU 16-4.
Maryland captured the last game in Tallahassee on Oct. 31, 1999, and secured second place in the ACC as Jackie Mynarski scored 8:57 into the match. The Terps won the first three meetings in the series as well.
The Terps blanked then-No. 23 FSU, 2-0 on goals by Terri Greer and Katie Ludwig last season on Oct. 20 at Ludwig Field.
Winning By Shutout
Maryland has won eight of its 10 games in 2001 via the shutout route. They won their first six by blanking their opponents, prior to the 2-1 win at William & Mary on Oct. 21. The Terps have shutout their last two foes, 2-0, blanking NC State last Sunday and Mount St. Mary's this past Tuesday.
Senior captain Ali Wolff has recorded whitewashes in those eight wins and one in a scoreless tie vs. James Madison. She has recorded a stellar 0.59 goals against average.
Wolff's nine shutouts set a personal career high for her, besting her mark of five shutouts in a season set in 1997 and tied in 1999.
The nine shutouts in a season also tie the mark for most single-season shutouts, all-time. Heather Rowe set the mark in 1988 and it was tied by Missy Price in 1996, with nine.
With six shutouts in the first 11 games, Maryland equaled last season's total of six shutouts, and surpassed it with a shutout in game No. 12, a scoreless tie with James Madison.
The school record for shutouts in a season is 13, set in 1996 with Price recording nine of them.
Wolff Moving Up All-Time Keeper Charts
Maryland senior goalkeeper Ali Wolff continues to re-write the record book when it comes to Maryland goalkeeping.
She added to her Maryland school record for career shutouts as she moved her career total to 20.5 with one save vs. Mount St. Mary's on Oct. 30.
Wolff set the school record when she made one save as the Terps blanked East Carolina, 1-0 on Sept. 9. Wolff broke the tie she had been in with former teammate Riki-Ann Serrins, who had 13.5 from 1997-2000.
She now has nine shutouts (vs. Towson, Duke, East Carolina, George Washington, Loyola, Clemson, James Madison, NC State and Mount St. Mary's) and a 0.59 goals against average on the season.
Wolff was named ACC Player of the Week (Aug. 31-Sept.3) after recording her first two shutouts of the season including a 2-0 upset over No. 17 Duke on Sept. 2, 2001.
She ranks in the top four in every one of Maryland's all-time goalkeeper stats.
With her start vs. Virginia, Wolff moved into second place all along for total goalkeeper games played and now has 65.
Wolff passed Riki-Ann Serrins for third all-time in career saves with two saves vs. North Carolina and now has 245.
Also with her start vs. the Tar Heels she moved into second all-time in goalie games started with 53, passing Missy Price who started 52 from 1993-96. She has now started 60 games between the pipes.
Wolff passed Price for goalie minutes played in the 22nd minute of the North Carolina game. Price played 4,483 minutes second to only Cailin Mullins' 6,098. Wolff has now played in 5,243 minutes with the Terps
Category Rank Total Record
Shutouts First 20.5 20.5 (Ali Wolff)
Minutes Played Second 5,243 6,098 (Cailin Mullins)
Games Played Second 65 70 (Cailin Mullins)
Games Started Second 60 66 (Cailin Mullins)
Saves Third 245 361 (Cailin Mullins)
GAA Fourth 1.48 1.07 (Kassie Knecht)
Boyd Named Maryland Student-Athlete of Week
Maryland senior Jenny Boyd (Herndon, Va.) was named the school's female student-athlete of the week on Oct. 29. Boyd had a huge week recording her first-career goal, the game-winner at NC State. She also added four assists in three games for a six-point week. Boyd assisted both goals in the win over William & Mary and assisted Jen Biscoe's (Baltimore, Md.) game-winner in overtime to beat regional rival Rutgers, 3-2 on Oct. 24.
Maryland Picks Up Ninth Win All-Time Vs. Top-10 Team
Maryland's win over No. 8 Clemson on Oct. 13, was its ninth all-time against a team ranked in the Top 10 of the NSCAA poll. The last time, Maryland upset a top-10 team came on Aug. 29, 2000, when Maryland shocked No. 4 Penn State, 3-1, at Ludwig Field.
The win was also Maryland's 31st all-time against a team ranked in the Top 25.
Maryland has now upset Clemson in each of its of its last three visits to Ludwig Field, when the Tigers were ranked in the NSCAA Top 10. The Terps beat then-No. 9 Clemson, 2-0 on Oct. 12, 1997 and also beat then-No. 9 Clemson on Oct. 17, 1999 in overtime.
The win over Clemson in 1999 was also Maryland's last home overtime game prior to last Saturday's shocker.
Maryland's first-ever win over a Top-10 team came when the Terps shocked No. 8 William & Mary, 2-1 on Oct. 8, 1993.
Maryland's Rebuilt Defense
Head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski has had to juggle her lineup due to injuries to three starting defenders. All three Maryland junior backs have missed part of the season or will miss the entire campaign.
Junior Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio) will miss the entire season after suffering a torn left ACL in practice on Aug. 29. She underwent successful surgery on Sept. 13.
Junior Sally Harrison (Virginia Beach, Va.) had her streak of 45 consecutive starts ended by a dislocated left kneecap suffered in a scrimmage on Sept. 16. She has missed every game starting with the George Washington game on Sept. 21.
With Viher out, Katie Kruse (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) has started the past 15 games, playing all but four minutes of the 15 matches helping the Terps to a 0.59 goals against average.
Freshman Lindsay Niehaus (Cincinnati, Ohio) has drawn the last 12 starts in the backfield.
Junior Valerie Lawrence (Silver Spring, Md.), who suffered a severely sprained right ankle against East Carolina on Sept. 9, missed her first four career games. She returned to action for the final three minutes against North Carolina on Oct. 5. She played about half of the game at Virginia. In the last four games, Lawrence has been used primarily as a midfielder, returning to the position she played as a freshman with the Terps.
With Lawrence and Harrison missing, Higgins-Cirovski moved starting forward Sara Gustafson (Reisterstown, Md.) to right back for three games, and has now inserted midfielder Katie Ludwig (Mount Laurel. N.J.) at that right back spot since the Loyola match on Sept. 30.
Poulin Named ACC Player Of Week after Memorable Week
Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) was named ACC Co-Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal to beat No. 8 Clemson on Oct. 13. She shared the honor with Virginia senior midfielder Laura Gaworecki. It was Poulin's first player of the week honor.
She was also named Maryland Female Student-Athlete of the Week for her achievement.
Poulin scored the game-winner against Clemson on at the 110:53 mark as she took a pass down the center of the field from fellow sophomore Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) and beat Clemson keeper Katie Carson to the left side from about five yards out.
The goal came on the 63rd shot of Poulin's two year-career, ending a scoreless drought spanning her 30 collegiate games at Maryland.
"This is just one of the greatest moments of my life," said an overwhelmed Poulin after the game. "After having gone so long with so many shots and not scoring I'm so happy that my first goal is such a great one. Jen Biscoe really set it up for me, she laid a perfect drive for me and I thought to myself, I'm going to hit this ball as hard as I can -- and it went in!"
Media Information
WMUC Radio: Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast up to 10 Maryland women's soccer games in 2001. 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. Heather Schwartz will handle play-by-play.
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.
Mediateamlink.com: Releases, statistics and other sports information from all ACC schools as well as other conferences and institutions around the country are available by accessing www.mediateamlink.com. MediaTeamlink is FREE to all accredited media. Log on to www.mediateamlink.com if you do not already have an account, and click the "Sign Up Here" button and complete the short form.
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.
