May 20, 2001

Quotes

BALTIMORE - The top-seeded and top-ranked University of Maryland women's lacrosse team realized its goal today, winning its seventh straight NCAA Championship in a 14-13 double overtime thriller with third-seeded Georgetown at Homewood Field in Baltimore. In doing so, the Terrapins (23-0) became the fourth Maryland team in school history to finish its season without a blemish, joining the undefeated 1995, 1996 and 1999 teams.

The Terps' exciting win did not come easy as it occurred with eight seconds remaining on the clock in the second overtime period. The winning goal was scored by senior Allison Comito after fellow senior Tori Wellington had dumped the ball in to her just to the right of the goal mouth.

"I wasn't looking for anyone in particular," said Wellington. "I was actually trying to settle it, then I saw Allison wide open. Before she shot it, I knew it was going in."

The goal ended the contest as the two teams had gone a pair of overtime periods (which in women's lacrosse actually count as one overtime), scoring a goal apiece in each and ultimately making the sudden death frame necessary.

The game's ending was not indicative of how it began as -- after allowing the Hoyas' Sheehan Stanwick to score the game's opening goal -- Maryland rattled off eight straight goals to take what seemed to be a commanding 8-1 lead. Leading the way was Wellington who rushed the goal for a pair of scores, while standout Jen Adams scored a goal and dished out a trio of assists in helping to account for half of the eight.

As it did in the semifinals against Loyola, Georgetown did not give up. The Hoyas, who came back from an 8-4 halftime deficit to get to the championship game, went on to score five of the next six goals to cut the Terps' halftime lead to 9-6.

With the start of the second half, so began the rain in Baltimore. Stanwick again opened the half with a goal, cutting the Maryland lead to 9-7, then junior Courtney Hobbs scored a pair to give the Terps an 11-7 lead.

Again, the Hoyas would battle back, this time scoring three straight to cut the Terrapin lead to one. Quinn Carney gave the Terps another cushion when she converted a free position with 10:44 remaining, but Georgetown plotted on behind an Erin Elbe goal (her fifth of the day) and Gloria Lozano's second to tie the score with 5:51 left.

For the final five minutes, it was up to the Terrapin defense as Georgetown spent most of that time in Maryland's end. Sophomore goalie Alexis Venechanos -- who easily played what was the best game of her young career -- came up with some big saves, the largest coming on a Sheehan Stanwick free position shot with less than a minute remaining, helping send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime period, freshman sensation Kelly Coppedge found the net with 0:17 left, giving the Terps the lead. Georgetown answered with 1:50 left in the second overtime to send the game to the sudden death frame where Comito came up big and the Terps clinched title number seven.

With the win, head coach Cindy Timchal passed William Smith's Pat Genovese on the all-time collegiate list for coaching wins. Maryland's victory was the 268th of Timchal's career (192 at Maryland and 76 at Northwestern) giving her one more than Genovese and making her women's lacrosse's all-time leader.

Maryland's title was the 10th in school history and comes on the 20th anniversary of the school's first, the 1981 AIAW championship.

GOALS:
GU: Erin Elbe 6, Sheehan Stanwick 2, Wick Stanwick 2, Gloria Lozano 2, Kate Ahern
UM: Courtney Hobbs 3, Kelly Coppedge 3, Sonia Judd 2, Allison Comito 2, Tori Wellinton 2, Jen Adams, Quinn Carney.

ASSISTS:
GU: S. Stanwick 3, Oglesby
UM: Adams 4, Judd, Wellington, Carney.

SAVES:
GU: Bowen Holden (7 sv, 14 GA, 67:36 min), Chandler Vicchio (0 sv, 0 GA, 1:16 min)
UM: Alexis Venechanos (14 sv, 13 GA, 66:36 min), Virginia Soloman (O sv, 2 GA, 2:16 min).

SHOTS:
GU 35, UM 33

FREE POSITION SHOTS:
GU 4 of 8, UM 1 of 6

GROUNDBALLS:
GU 28, UM 18

CAUSED TURNOVERS:
GU 9, UM 4

TURNOVERS:
GU 12, UM 18

DRAW CONTROLS:
GU 14, UM 18

ATTENDANCE: 3535

NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Loyola Midfielder Suzanne Eyler
Loyola Attacker Stacey Morlang
Princeton Defender Jess Nelson
Princeton Defender Rachel Becker
Georgetown Attacker Sheehan Stanwick
Georgetown Defender Caitlin McLean
Georgetown Attacker Erin Elbe
Maryland Midfielder Jen Adams
Maryland Midfielder Quinn Carney
Maryland Midfielder Kelly Coppedge
Maryland Defender Tori Wellington
Maryland Midfielder Courtney Martinez (Most Valuable Player)