Critical Week On Tap For Terps: On The Road At Penn State, Home For Virginia
10/7/2002 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2002
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MARYLAND (7-4-0) at PENN STATE (8-2-1)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002 * 7:00 p.m.
JEFFREY FIELD (3,500/Grass), UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.
Live Audio: check umterps.com
VIRGINIA (6-3-2, 0-1-0) at MARYLAND (7-4-0, 1-2-0)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2002 * 7:00 p.m.
LUDWIG FIELD (4,000/Grass), COLLEGE PARK, MD.
Live Audio: wmucsports.com link off umterps.com
Critical Week On Tap For Terps: At Penn State, Home for Virginia
* The Maryland women's soccer team is preparing one its biggest weeks of the season, as the Terps face a top regional foe in Penn State, Tuesday on the road and return home to take on ACC and regional rival Virginia on Friday night. The Terps enter the week with a 7-4-0 overall record and a 1-2-0 mark in the ACC after a heart-breaking double-overtime 2-1 loss to conference foe NC State last Friday night. The last Maryland-Penn State match resulted in the biggest upset win in Maryland history as the Terps beat a team ranked in the top-five for the first time, ever, with a 3-1 victory over the No. 4 Nittany Lions on Aug. 29, 2000.
* The Terps were back in the NSCAA Coaches Poll for the second time this season in last week's poll of Sept. 30, coming in at No. 23. In the Mid-Atlantic Regional poll, the Terps were fourth behind West Virginia, Penn State and Princeton, while Virginia ranked sixth.
* In the polls from Sept. 30, Penn State was ranked in the top 12 in all four standings at No. 12 in the NSCAA poll, No. 7 in the Soccer America and SoccerTimes polls and No. 9 in the Soccer Buzz poll. Virginia was No. 17 in the SoccerTimes poll and No. 22 in the Soccer America poll.
Terps Kick Offense Into Gear
* Maryland's offense has kicked it into high gear this season. Through 11 games this season, the Terps have 28 goals this season in 11 games, (2.51 per game). That total is four more than the entire season total for all of 2001, when the Terps tallied 24 goals in 19 goals (1.26 per game). Maryland surpassed that 24-goal mark in the ninth game of this season in the 3-2 win over Duke on Sept. 27.
* The offense has been paced by freshman forward Ali Andrzejewski (Lutherville, Md.) who scored twice vs. George Washington on Sept. 22 for her second two-goal performance of the season. The striker has six goals and one assist for 13 points. Her six goals in 11 games are more than Maryland's leading scorer for all of last season, as Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) and Kim King (Media, Pa.) each had five goals for the 19-game campaign. In fact Andrzejewski passed that five-goal mark in the win over GW in the eighth game of the season.
* Juniors Katie Ludwig (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) have five and four goals, respectively, in 11 games -- which is more than each player scored all of last season. Ludwig had two goals in 2001, although she did play most of the year on defense and Poulin had three goals last season -- the first three of her career.
* The assists have also been coming at a fast rate with all of the goals. Junior Jenny Biscoe and freshman Kimmy Francis (Richboro, Pa.) lead the team with five assists in 11 games. For Biscoe, the five equals her total for all of last season. Earlier this season, she tied a school-record with a three-assist performance at Rutgers on Sept. 6. Francis has handed out five helpers , including the corner kick that led to the team's lone goal in the 1-0 win over William & Mary on Sept. 29. She also scored her first college goal vs. George Washington.
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Maryland:
2002 Record: 7-4-0 (1-2-0 ACC) 2002 Rankings: NSCAA (23rd), Soccer Times (Votes) Head Coach: Shannon Higgins-Cirovski (UNC '90) Coach's Record: 105-91-14 (.533)/11th season Coach's Record at UM: 36-32-3 (.528)/4th season Ass't Coach: Kerry Dziczkaniec (George Washington '93) Ass't Coach: Steve Campbell (Maryland '96) Leading Scorer: Ali Andrzejewski (6 g,1 a, 13 pts.)
Penn State:
Virginia:
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* Senior Kim King (Media, Pa.) has been an important cog off the bench as she has two goals and two assists for six points this season. She notched the game-winning goal on a penalty kick on the win over Duke, scoring in the 66th minute. Freshman Simone Dekker (Ringwood, N.J.) has been a great addition, as the speedy forward has played in all 11 games and posting four goals and nine points. Senior Dana Jarzyniecki (Rochester, N.Y.) continues to provide stability in the midfield in her fourth year. She has played in all 71 games since she came in College Park in 1999 and ranks tied for 11th in career assists with 11.
Defense Has Been Strong
* The Terps' defense has been strong as well with freshman goalkeeper Mariel Wilner (Owings Mills, Md.) in the net. Wilner has a 1.75 goals against average and a .605 save percentage in her first collegiate season. Wilner picked up her first collegiate solo shutout with five saves against William & Mary. Junior goalkeeper Kristen Barnhill (Charlottesville, Va.) has been a capable backup. She showed her worth when she came on in the 33rd minute against Duke, when Wilner was injured, and made five saves in preserving the Terps' critical ACC win for her first collegiate victory.
* Aiding the keepers on the backline is junior All-ACC selection Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.) along with sophomores Jennifer Lovecchio (Vineland, N.J.), Lindsay Niehaus (Cincinnati, Ohio) and freshmen Mallory Mahar (Medina, Ohio) and Kristin McHugh (Gaithersburg, Md.). Mahar has been a force on set pieces recording three goals all on headers off corner kicks this season including the game-winner vs. William & Mary.
About The Nittany Lions
* Penn State (8-2-1 overall) is led by 2001 Hermann Trophy Award winner Christie Welsh. The high-scoring forward led the Nittany Lions once again with six goals and nine assists for 21 points through 11 games. Tiffany Weimer leads the team in goals with eight and has added an assist for 17 points. All-American Joanna Lohman has 13 points on four goals and five assists after a four-point outing on Sunday in the Lions' last game a 3-0 win at Michigan State. Penn State had its seven-game unbeaten streak snapped last Friday as Michigan handed the Lions their worst loss since 1996.
The Maryland-Penn State Series
* Maryland holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series with Penn State including its only program win over a top-five ranked team. In the last meeting between the clubs, No. 23 Maryland upset No. 4 Penn State, 3-1 on Aug. 29, 2000 in College Park. In that dramatic win Sara Gustafson netted a hat trick for all three goals.
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UM-PSU SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: Maryland leads 3-2-0 Aug. 29, 2000 #23 Maryland 3, #4 Penn St. 1 Nov. 14, 1999 #6 Penn St. 3, #25 Maryland 2 (NCAA Second Round) Sept. 4, 1998 #25 Penn St. 3, #18 Maryland 0 Oct. 31, 1997 #18 Maryland 3, #21 Penn St. 1 Oct. 6, 1996 #4 Maryland 3, #15 Penn St. 1 (At George Mason Tournament)
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* Penn State won the last meeting in State College, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, with a 3-2 win on Nov. 14, 1999. Lindsay Basalyga scored both goals in that tough defeat.
* In the 1998 meeting, Maryland opened the season at Penn State and fell to the Nittany Lions, 3-0 on Sept 4. Maryland won the 1997 meeting by a score of 3-1 on Oct. 31. The first meeting between the teams came on Oct. 6, 1996 when then-ranked No. 4 Maryland topped Penn State, 3-1 at the George Mason Tournament held in Fairfax, Va.
* In all five previous meetings between the teams, both clubs were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game.
Terps Moving Up Assist Chart
* Three Terps are moving up the Maryland career assist chart. Lindsay Givens is tied for eighth all-time with 12 assists after picking up her first of the 2002 season on a throw-in to a Mallory Mahar goal against Notre Dame on Sept. 15.
* Dana Jarzyniecki (Rochester, N.Y.) has 11 in her career to stand tied for 11th all-time at Maryland. She added her 11th assist against George Washington.
* With her fast start this season Jenny Biscoe now has 10 career assists and is closing in on the top 12. Biscoe tied the school record for assists in a game with three at Rutgers. Jarzyniecki set the record originally vs. Howard on Oct. 11, 2000.
Viher, Harrison, Lawrence On The Injury Report
* Three Terp defenders are still out with major injuries. Senior Valerie Lawrence is redshirting the 2002 season as she continues to recover from a torn ACL in her left knee. Junior captain Carly Viher is also out for the season after tearing the ACL in her left knee for the second time in just over a year on Sept. 17 in practice. She underwent surgery on Friday, Sept. 27. Junior Sally Harrison, who was granted a redshirt year in 2001 after playing just four games, is still working her way back from a dislocated knee cap suffered in an intrasquad scrimmage on Sept. 16, 2001.
Taking On The Tough Teams
* The Terps have of the toughest schedules in the nation, having faced three teams ranked in the top 11 already this season. Against Duke, Maryland picked up its 32nd all-time win against a team ranked in the NSCAA Top 25, beating the No. 22 Blue Devils, 3-2 on Sept. 27. Last season, Maryland defeated No. 17 Duke, 2-0 on Sept. 2 and No. 8 Clemson, 1-0 in overtime on Oct. 13.
* During each of Shannon Higgins-Cirovski's seasons at Maryland, she has led the Terps to at least one upset of a top-10 ranked team, leading Maryland to a 4-3 win at No. 9 Duke on Sept. 19, 1999 and a 2-1 victory over Clemson on Oct. 17, 1999; a 3-1 win over No. 4 Penn State on Aug. 29, 2000 and a 1-0 overtime over No. 8 Clemson, last season on Oct. 13.
* In the NSCAA poll of Sept. 30, Maryland will play or has faced six teams in the top 25: No. 2 North Carolina, No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 10 Connecticut, No. 12 Penn State, No. 21 Florida State and No. 25 Clemson. Notre Dame is also listed in others receiving votes.
* Maryland takes on 12 teams that played in last season's Women's College Cup including three teams that advanced to the NCAA national quarterfinals including runner-up North Carolina. In addition to the Tar Heels, Maryland will also take on 2001 NCAA qualifiers (Clemson, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Loyola, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers, Virginia, Wake Forest and William & Mary). Of those 12 teams, eight were ranked in the top 20 of the final NSCAA poll.
* "The only way to be the best is to play the best," said head coach Higgins-Cirovski. "We have added high caliber teams such as Connecticut, Notre Dame and Penn State to go along with the challenging ACC schedule. I think we have one of the best schedules in the country.
* In taking on preseason No. 9 UConn in the second game of the season, Maryland got a quick taste of what much of its season will be like -- games against top ranked teams. Once again, Higgins-Cirovski has scheduled one of the nation's competitive schedules. The Terps take on eight teams in the preseason NSCAA poll including five in the top nine. The Terps face No. 2 North Carolina (Nov. 1), No. 6 Virginia (Oct. 11), No. 7 Notre Dame (L, 5-2 on Sept. 15), No. 8 Penn State (Oct. 8), No. 9 Connecticut (L, 3-1 on Sept. 1), No. 14 Clemson (Oct. 20), No. 17 Florida State (Oct. 25) and No. 19 Rutgers (W, 5-2 on Sept. 6).
THE 2002 CAPTAINS
* Maryland will have a trio of juniors serve as team captains this season: midfielder Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) and defenders Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.) and Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio). Givens served as a captain last season along with graduated goalkeeper Ali Wolff. Biscoe and Givens were both named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic team for last season.
Higgins-Cirovski Wins 100th career game
* With the Terps' 5-2 win at Rutgers on Sept. 6, Maryland head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski picked up her 100th career college coaching victory. Higgins-Cirovski currently has a 105-90-14 career mark at George Washington and Maryland. She went 69-59-11 at George Washington from 1991-97 in leading the Colonials to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. At Maryland, Higgins-Cirovski has led the Terps to NCAA bids in 1999 and 2001 and has a 36-32-3 mark in three-plus seasons on the sidelines.
Higgins-Cirovski Heads for Hall
* The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced on June 24, 2002, the selection of three champion midfielders slated for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2002. Current Maryland women's soccer head coach and 1991 Women's World Cup champion Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, former NASL/Cosmos star Vladislav "Bogie" Bogicevic and veterans U.S. men's captain Adolph Bachmeier will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. on October 14, 2002.
* "These great midfielders represent three distinct eras in U.S. soccer history," said National Soccer Hall of Fame President Will Lunn. "Bachmeier captained the U.S. during the difficult building period of the 1960's and 70's, Bogicevic was a star with the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League of the 1970's and 80's and Higgins-Cirovski was the standout midfielder for the U.S in the 1980's and early 90's and a key to the USA's victory at the first FIFA Women's World Championship in 1991. We look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame and honoring their accomplishments."
* Higgins-Cirovski, who starred collegiately at the University of North Carolina is just the third women to enter the Hall as a player (joining April Heinrichs and Carin Jennings-Gabarra) and is the youngest person to enter the hall at just 34 years old.
* "This really puts what being a pioneer is, into perspective," said Higgins-Cirovski. "It is truly an amazing honor, obviously as you move past your playing days and reflect on them, they seem to move further away. It is so nice of the committee to recognize my accomplishments. To think of all of the players that I watched, such as Bogicevic and other Hall of Famers ... to be joining them is such an honor."
Media Information
* WMUC Radio: Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast up to 11 Maryland women's soccer games in 2002. A pregame show will air approximately 30 minutes prior to kickoff. WMUC's broadcasts can be heard live on the Internet at wmucsports.com and will be linked to umterps.com. Josh Madden will handle play-by-play. He will be assisted by Mark Zaner and Ariel Agami.
* 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.
* 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.
The Shannon Higgins-Cirovski Show
* WMUCSports.com will air the Shannon Higgins-Cirovski show every other Thursday at 7 p.m. and continues on Thursday, Oct. 9. The first show ran on Sept. 12 with Higgins-Cirovski joined by junior Katie Ludwig. Senior Sarah McClellan was the guest on the second show which ran on Sept. 26 The shows are available on umterps.com and WMUCSports.com with hosts Josh Maurer , Josh Madden and Ariel Agami.
