Sept. 10, 2002

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LOYOLA (2-0) at No. 25 MARYLAND (3-1)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2002 * 7:30 p.m.
LUDWIG FIELD (4,000/Grass), COLLEGE PARK, MD.
Game Coverage: WMUC (88.1 FM) and wmucsports.com

No. 11 NOTRE DAME (2-2) at No. 25 MARYLAND (3-1)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 * 2:00 p.m.
LUDWIG FIELD (4,000/Grass), COLLEGE PARK, MD.
Game Coverage: WMUC (88.1 FM) and wmucsports.com

Terps Host 2002 Maryland/FILA Classic This Weekend
* The Maryland women's soccer team plays host to its first home tournament in three seasons as the Terps welcome the Hartford Hawks, Loyola Greyhounds and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for this weekend's event. The Classic will begin Friday, Sept. 13 with Hartford taking on Notre Dame at 5 p.m., that will be followed by the Maryland-Loyola match at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 15, Hartford will challenge Loyola at 11:30 a.m. and the Terps will face the Irish at 2:00 p.m. Live statistics will be available for all of the matches by logging on to umterps.com and live audio of the Maryland-Loyola and Maryland-Notre Dame matches will be available through wmucsports.com, which will be linked to umterps.com.

Terps Crack NSCAA Top 25, Move To Fourth In Region
* Coming off a pair of key Mid-Atlantic regional wins, Maryland is ranked No. 25 in this week's NSCAA Coaches' Poll released on Monday, Sept. 9. (The poll can be found by clicking here) The Terps are 3-1 following wins over Rutgers, 5-2, last Friday night and Virginia Commonwealth, 2-1, last Sunday evening. Maryland has also moved to fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the NSCAA Poll behind Penn State, Virginia and Princeton. Last season, Maryland was ranked as high as No. 14 in the Sept. 3 poll.

* Maryland's offense has kicked it into high gear this season with 13 goals in the first four games. Last season, Maryland scored 24 goals the entire season in 19 matches. Freshman forward Ali Andrzejewski (Lutherville, Md.) and junior forward Katie Ludwig (Mount Laurel, N.J.) lead the Terps in scoring with seven points apiece on three goals and an assist. Andrzejewski has scored the game-winning goals in both the wins over Fordham and Rutgers while Ludwig had the winner in the victory over VCU. Junior midfielder Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) also has three goals in the first four games, equalling her total for all of last season. Junior midfielder Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) leads in assists with four including a school-record tying three-assist performance at Rutgers on Sept. 6.

* The Terps' defense has been strong as well with freshman goalkeeper Mariel Wilner (Owings Mills, Md.) in the net. Wilner has 1.61 goals against average and a .667 save percentage in her first collegiate season. Aiding her on the backline is junior All-ACC selection Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.) along with sophomore Lindsay Niehaus (Cincinnati, Ohio) and freshmen starters Mallory Mahar (Medina, Ohio) and Kristin McHugh (Gaithersburg, Md.). Sophomore Jennifer Lovecchio (Vineland, N.J.) has also played key minutes in the backfield for the Terps.

Higgins-Cirovski Wins 100th Career Game
* With the Terps' 5-2 win at Rutgers last on Sept. 6, Maryland head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski picked up her 100th career college coaching victory. Higgins-Cirovski currently has a 101-88-14 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 32-29-3 mark in three-plus seasons on the sidelines. About This Weekend's Field

* Hartford comes into the Classic with a 2-1 record. The Hawks have won their last two matches, 2-0 over Central Connecticut last Friday and 8-0 over Fordham on Sept. 1 at the UConn Classic, which Maryland also participated in. The Hawks' only loss came to then-No. 9 Connecticut in the season opener, 3-2 on Aug. 30. Hartford is led by Jeanette Akerlund, who has six goals and two assists for 14 points. She netted five against Fordham on Sept. 1 and was named to the UConn Classic All-Tournament Team.

* Loyola is undefeated at 2-0 heading into Friday's match with Maryland. The Greyhounds won their opener, 1-0 at Charleston on Aug. 31. They had their second game of the season against Furman (at the Charleston Tournament) postponed due to poor field conditions. The Hounds won their last game, 2-0 over Towson last Friday. Ashley Kramer has two of the team's three goals on the young season. Goalkeeper Erica Neiman has not allowed a goal in 180 minutes, making four saves.

* Notre Dame is coming off a pair of shutout home losses, the team's first whitewash at home since 1992, falling 1-0 to No. 13 Santa Clara, 4-0 and No. 19 Portland, 1-0 last weekend at the Notre Dame Classic. The Irish come to College Park with a 2-2 record. Notre Dame had won 31 consecutive home matches prior to losses. The Irish opened the season with a pair of shutout wins, 3-0 over Providence and 5-0 over Virginia Tech. Randi Scheller and Amy Warner each have two goals and an assist to lead with five points.

A Familiar Face On The Loyola Sidelines
* Friday's game will mark the return of former Maryland star goalkeeper Ali Wolff, who now serves as an assistant coach with Loyola. Wolff was an All-ACC selection last season at Maryland and finished her career (1997-2001) with a school record 20.5 shutouts. She led Maryland to the NCAA Women's College Cup last season with a 10-7-2 record and 1.00 goals against average, playing all 1,801 minutes.

The Maryland-Loyola Series
* Maryland continues its rivalry with Loyola this season, for the second year in a row after not playing for six seasons. The Terps have won all six of the matches between the teams and have outscored the Greyhounds, 22-2 in the series which started in 1987.

* Last season, Maryland topped the Greyhounds, 2-0 at Ludwig Field on Sept. 30 as Jen Biscoe scored off a pass from Kim King (Media, Pa.) in the 3rd minute and Courtney Beirne scored off an assist from Melissa Anderson (Annapolis, Md.) in the 87th minute to seal the win. Ali Wolff made two saves in the win.

UM-Loyola Series
Oct. 1987 Maryland 7, Loyola 1
Oct. 6, 1992 Maryland 3, Loyola 0
Oct. 5, 1993 Maryland 4, Loyola 1
Oct. 12, 1994 Maryland 3, Loyola 0
Sept. 12, 1995 No. 15 Maryland 3, Loyola 0
Sept. 30, 2001 Maryland 2, Loyola 0

The Maryland-Notre Dame Series
* Sunday's match will mark just the second between Maryland and Notre Dame, and it will be the first in the regular season. The Terps and Irish faced off in the 1996 NCAA Quarterfinals in South Bend, Ind. with Notre Dame coming with a 2-0 victory as Monica Gerado scored the game-winner at the 16:00 mark.

Maryland's Home Tournament History
* This weekend's Maryland/FILA Classic will be the fourth home tournament held by the Terps since the program started in 1987. The three previous events were held in 1997, 1998 and 1999. With Maryland winning the championship in 1997.

* In 1997, the Terps hosted the Maryland/Puma Tournament on Sept. 12-14. Maryland defeated Wake Forest, 4-0 and Pennsylvania, 2-0 to win the title.

* In 1998, Maryland topped USC in the first round of the Maryland/Puma Tournament, 3-0, but fell to Texas Tech, 3-2 on the second day. The Red Raiders won the title, as they also beat Towson, 3-0 in the first round.

* In 1999, the Terps hosted the Maryland/FILA Classic and lost both matches, 4-0 to Baylor and 2-0 to Pennsylvania. Baylor won the title, as it also defeated Pittsburgh, 3-1 in the final.

Terps Moving Up Assist Chart
* Three Terps are moving the Maryland career assist chart. Lindsay Givens is tied for 10th all-time with 11 assists. While Dana Jarzyniecki (Rochester, N.Y.) has 10 in her career to stand 12th all-time at Maryland. With her fast start this season Jenny Biscoe now has nine career assists.

* 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.

UM Career Assist Leaders
1. Keri Sarver (95-98) 33
2. Emmy Harbo (95-98) 28

5. Leslie Kerhin (92-94) 15
6. Kelly Amonte (92-95) 14
7. M. Deville (94-97) 13
8. T. Sheremeta (90-93) 12
Terri Rich (92-95) 12
10. L. Basalyga (96-99) 11
Lindsay Givens (99-pres.) 11
12. D. Jarzyniecki (99-pres.) 10
13. Jen Biscoe (00-pres.) 9

Playing The Best
* Maryland will take 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 Shannon 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 (Sept. 15), No. 8 Penn State (Oct. 8), No. 9 Connecticut (Sept. 1), No. 14 Clemson (Oct. 20), No. 17 Florida State (Oct. 25) and No. 19 Rutgers (Sept. 6).

* In the current NSCAA poll of Sept. 9, Maryland is set to face seven teams in the top 25, all of which are ranked in the top 18: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 6 Penn State, No. 10 Virginia, No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 12 Connecticut , No. 13 Wake Forest and No. 18 Clemson.

* During each of Higgins-Cirovski's season 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 and a 1-0 overtime over No. 8 Clemson, last season on Oct. 13.

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. Viher returns to action this season after sitting out last year as suffering a torn ACL just prior to the start of the year.

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 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.

TEAM FACTS
Maryland:
2002 Record: 3-1-0 (0-0-0 ACC)
2002 Rankings: NSCAA (25th) Soccer Times(Rec. Votes)
Head Coach: Shannon Higgins-Cirovski (UNC '90)
Coach's Record: 101-88-14 (.532)/11th season
Coach's Record at UM: 32-29-3 (.526)/4th season
Ass't Coach: Kerry Dziczkaniec (George Washington '93)
Ass't Coach: Steve Campbell (Maryland '96)
Leading Scorer: Ali Andrzejewski (3-1=7), Katie Ludwig (3-1=7)

Loyola:
2002 Record: 2-0-0 (0-0-0 MAAC)
Head Coach: Joe Malia (Old Dominion '92)
Coach's Record: 49-26-6 (.642)/5th season
Coach's Record at Loyola: 49-26-6 (.642)/5th season
Ass't Coach: Jim McGirr (Rider '92), Ali Wolff (Maryland '01)
Leading Scorer: Ashley Kramer (2-0=4)

No. 11 Notre Dame:
2002 Record: 2-2-0 (0-0-0 Big East)
2002 Rankings: NSCAA (11th), S.Amer (11th) S.Times(15th)
Head Coach: Randy Waldrum (Midwestern State '81)
Coach's Record: 246-115-22 (.671)/21st season
Coach's Record at N. Dame: 63-10-3 (.849)/4th season
Ass't Coach: Amy Edwards (Tula '92)
Ass't Coach: Barb Chura (Connecticut '93)
Leading Scorer: R. Scheller (2-1=5), Amy Warner (2-1=5)

ACC Standings
Team W-L-T Pct. W-L-T Pct.
Wake Forest 4-0-0 1.000 0-0-0 .000
North Carolina 3-0-1 .889 0-0-0 .000
Maryland 3-1-0 .750 0-0-0 .000
Clemson 2-2-0 .500 0-0-0 .000
Duke 2-2-0 .500 0-0-0 .000
Florida State 1-1-2 .500 0-0-0 .000
Virginia 1-1-1 .500 0-0-0 .000
NC State 1-3-0 .250 0-0-0 .000

ACC Action This Week
Tuesday, September 10
Davidson at Wake Forest, 8:00 pm

Wednesday, September 11
Clemson at South Carolina, 7:00 pm
Florida State at Miami, 7:00 pm

Friday, September 13
Florida State vs. Virginia Tech @Miami, 4:30 pm
Duke vs. Central Florida @ Florida, 5:00 pm
Butler at Clemson, 7:30 pm
Layola at Maryland, 7:30 pm
North Carolina vs. Texas @ Houston,TBA
West Virginia at Virginia, 7:30 pm
Loyola Marymount at Wake Forest 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 15
Florida State vs. Charlotte @ Miami, 12:00 pm
Dartmouth at Virginia, 1:00 pm
Southern California at Wake Forest, 2:00 pm
Notre Dame at Maryland, 2:00 pm
Tennessee at Clemson, 2:30 pm
Duke at Florida, 2:30 pm
Carolina vs. Texas A&M @ Houston, TBA
Temple at NC State, 3:30 pm