Terps Return From Overseas; Face Towson In Season Opener

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Aug. 27, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland opens its 15th season of intercollegiate women's soccer this Friday as the Terps take on local rival Towson at 7 p.m. in the season opener at Ludwig Field. All-time Maryland has a 144-129-19 record for a .526 win percentage.

The Terps began the 2001 season with a preseason training trip to Europe, where they played five games against teams from Germany, Holland and Belgium, recording a 2-1-2 record.

Maryland played to 1-1 ties in its first two games against FCC Frankfurt (Aug. 18) and Eendracht Aalst of Belgium (Aug. 20). They continued with a win over ODC Boxtel of Holland, 4-2 on Aug. 22, a loss to FCR Duisburg of Germany, 3-2 on Aug. 23, before closing with their best effort of the trip a 5-0 trouncing of Oost Kapelle of Holland.

Recapping The European Tour

FCC Frankfurt Recap: The Terps opened their European exhibition tour on Saturday, Aug. 18. Maryland played to a 1-1 tie against FCC Frankfurt, the German Bundesliga Damen National Klub Champion. The Terps' goal came off the foot of junior Kim King (Media, Pa.).

Eendracht Aalst Recap: Maryland took on Belgian Club National Champion Eendracht Aalst in the second game of its tour. The Terps tied Aalst, 1-1. Katie Ludwig (Mount Laurel, N.J.) gave Maryland a 1-0 lead on a brilliant goal with her back to the net inside the 18-yard box. She one-touched the ball, turned and volleyed the ball into the far post side of the net. Freshman Melissa Anderson (Annapolis, Md.) was credited the assist on Ludwig's goal in the 68th minute. Aalst tied the game in the 80th minute.

ODC Boxtel Recap: The Terps rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit to post the 4-2 win against the Dutch team. Valerie Lawrence (Silver Spring, Md.) got the Terps on the board 8:40 into the match. ODC Boxtel then scored back-to-back goals to build the halftime lead. Maryland came out strong in the second half as Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio) scored off a corner kick to tie the game at 2-2. Sara Gustafson (Reisterstown, Md.) notched the game-winner, making it 3-2. Kim King added an insurance goal for the 4-2 final.

FCR Duisburg Recap: Playing against FCR Duisburg, proved to be the Terps' most challenging game of the European tour according to head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski. Featuring a number of German national team members, FCR Duisburg recorded the 3-2 win over Maryland. FCR Duisburg took a 2-0 lead on goals by Melanie Hoffmann (14 minutes into the match) and Jeannette Götte. Maryland than struck as Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) brought the Terps to within, 2-1. But Hoffmann scored again to make it 3-1. Maryland's Sara Gustafson tallied a late goal to make it 3-2.

Oost Kapelle Recap: Maryland played its most complete game against Oost Kapelle of Holland, recording a 5-0 win. Coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski was pleased with the Terps' usage of several different set pieces including goals on a corner kick and a throw-in. Overall, the win was a big confidence builder as Maryland headed back to the U.S. The Terps goals came from Audra Poulin, assisted by Courtney Beirne (Westminster, Md.), Sara Gustafson, assisted by Kim King and Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.), Melissa Anderson, Valerie Lawrence, a header off a Givens' corner kick and Beirne off an assist from Lindsay Niehaus (Cincinnati, Ohio). Ali Wolff (Richmond, Va.) played her fifth straight complete game and posted the shutout.

Series Notes With Towson

Maryland holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series with Towson, which was dormant for seven seasons prior to last year. The Terps won the first game since 1992, 1-0 last Sept. 6.

In 2000, Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) scored her first college goal with 4:09 left in the first half for the only goal of the game. Carly Viher was credited with the assist on the goal. Riki-Ann Serrins made one save to post the shutout. Maryland outshot the Tigers, 19-4, including taking 19 of the final 21 shots in the contest.

Maryland dominated the first-ever meeting with the Tigers in 1992, trouncing the Tigers, 12-0, setting a school record for goals in a game which still stands.

Towson is coached by Maryland grad Leslie Kerhin Wray (class of `95). She played three seasons in College Park (1992-94). She finished her career with six goals and 15 assists for 27 points. Her assist total still ranks fifth all-time on the Terp career list. She tied for the team lead in goals (5) and points (14) in 1993.

Maryland In Season openers

Maryland holds a 7-7 record in season openers, dating back to 1987. The Terps are 9-5 in home openers.

The Terps have won their last two season openers -- both on the road -- defeating George Washington, 2-0 on Aug. 29, 1999, in Shannon Higgins-Cirovski's Maryland coaching debut. They also won the 2000 opener, 1-0 at Rutgers on Carly Viher's first-career goal.

Maryland has won seven straight home openers, dating back to 1994. Over that four-game stretch the Terps have outscored their opponents, 29-4.

Last season, Maryland upset No. 4 Penn State in the home opener, 3-1 as Sara Gustafson notched a hat trick on Aug. 29, 2000.

Playing The Tough Schedule Again

Once again, Maryland will play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, taking on eight teams in the preseason NSCAA Top 25 and two others receiving votes: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 9 Virginia, No. 12 Clemson, No. 16 Florida State, No. 17 Duke, No. 22 Wake Forest, William & Mary (RV) and Richmond (RV).

Nine of the teams on the Terps' schedule qualified for the 2000 NCAA Tournament including defending national champion North Carolina. Other 2001 opponents who played in last year's tournament were: Clemson (quarterfinals), Duke (second round), Florida State (second round), Loyola (play-in), Richmond (second round), Virginia (third round), Wake Forest (second round) and William & Mary (first round).

2001 Captains

The Terps have a pair of captains for 2001 in senior goalkeeper Ali Wolff (Richmond, Va.) and sophomore defender Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.). Both players sat out last season as redshirts, but return for the 2001 campaign. Wolff ranks in the top five on every Maryland career goalkeeping chart. Givens was named a Soccer Buzz Freshman All-American in 1999.

Media Information

WMUC Radio: Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast up to 10 Maryland women's soccer games in 2000. 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 and Manny Fantis will be on the color commentary.

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.

Terps Return From Overseas; Face Towson In Season Opener

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