Terps Host No. 24 Clemson On Friday's Alumni Night
10/9/2003 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2003
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MARYLAND (6-4-1) vs. No. 24 CLEMSON (7-2-2)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2003 * 7:00 p.m.
LUDWIG FIELD (4,500/Grass), COLLEGE PARK, Md.
Live Audio: wmucsports.com * Live Stats: umterps.com
Terps Host No. 24 Clemson On Friday's Alumni Night
* The Maryland women's soccer team, ranked No. 23 by Soccer America, closes out its three-game homestand at Ludwig Field this Friday, Oct. 10, on Alumni Night, as the Terps (6-4-1 overall, 0-2 ACC) host No. 24 Clemson (7-2-2, 1-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. The Terps/Tigers game will also be broadcast on WMUCSports.com and on 88.1 FM (WMUC) in College Park.
* Among the alumni expected to be on hand are Maryland's all-time leading scorer Keri Sarver (1995-98) and third leading scorer Robin McCullough (1995-98), both of whom played with the WUSA's Carolina Courage this past summer. Joining them will be the following alums: Wendy Baldwin (1995-98), Abby Bausman (1995-98), Courtney Beirne (1998-2001), Michelle Blount (1989-90), Jennifer Boyd (1997-01), Sara Gustafson (1999-2001), Kathy Lacey (1987-89), Debbie Lieberman (1998-2001), Katie McCabe (1989-92), Sarah McClellan (2000-02), Jackie Mynarski (1996-99), Heather Rowe (1988-91), Michelle Salmon (1994-97) and Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-2000).
* The Terps come off a 4-0 loss to No. 1 North Carolina last Sunday afternoon in a game televised by Comcast SportsNet. Prior to the loss, the Terps got back on the winning track in a convincing way as they routed regional rival James Madison, 6-0 on Oct. 1 to open this homestand. Maryland, which is 4-2-1 in its last seven games, tallied its most goals in a game since a 9-0 pounding of Howard on Oct. 11, 2000. Seniors Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) and Katie Ludwig (Mount Laurel, N.J.) each posted a career-high five points on two goals and an assist in the win. Maryland's other goals came from Mallory Mahar (Medina, Ohio) and Ali Andrzejewski (Lutherville, Md.).
* Clemson, ranked No. 24 in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll, comes into the game after tying Furman, 0-0, on Tuesday in a huge state rivalry. The Tigers outshot the Lady Paladins, 26-7, but Furman's goalkeeper made a school-record tying 19 saves. Overall, Clemson has not lost in four games going 2-0-2 with wins over Coastal Carolina (2-0 on Sept. 28) and NC State (3-0 on Oct. 3), they also tied San Diego (1-1 on Sept. 21). Their two losses have come to Texas (1-0 on Sept. 5) and home and to Cal-State Fullerton (1-0 on Sept. 19) on the road. The Clemson has not won a road game this season, as they are 0-1-2 in their three games as visitors. Tigers are led by freshman Courtney Foster, who has six goals and three assists for 15 points. Clemson's goalkeeper Lauren Whitt has allowed just three goals and has a 0.27 goals against average, starting all games and playing all but 45 minutes. She joined the Tigers as a sixth-year senior student after finishing five years at Vanderbilt.
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Top 5 Terp Tidbits
* The last five games in the Maryland-Clemson series have been decided by one goal, including last season's 3-2 Terp win in Clemson. * Prior to last season, the home team had won every game in the series as Maryland is a perfect 5-0 at Ludwig Field vs. the Tigers. * The all-time series between Maryland and Clemson is tied at 6-6 with each team scoring 17 goals in the 12 games. * Maryland picked up its 34th all-time win over a NSCAA Top 25 team, when they beat No. 23Tennessee, on Saturday, Sept. 20. * Maryland has scored the first goal of the game, in six of its last seven games, with all of those goals coming in the first 16 minutes of action -- and five of the six within the first five minutes.
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Could It Be a One-goal Game Again?
* Maryland an Clemson have a history of playing tight games including last season's game at Riggs Field, as the Terps became the first team in the 12-game series to win on the road, 3-2 on Oct. 20, 2002. Overall, the series is deadlocked at 6-6, with each team scoring 17 goals in the 12 games. The last five regular-season games in the series have been one-goal affairs. Maryland is 5-0 all-time vs. Clemson at home.
* In last season's game, Jen Biscoe scored the game-winning goal on a diving header shot off a rebound with 6:33 left in regulation to lift the Terps team to a 3-2 win at Riggs Field. The win was Maryland's first ever at Clemson in six games dating back to 1994. The Terps overcame a 1-0 deficit and a 2-1 deficit in the second half to come away with the win. Audra Poulin tied the game at 1-1 in the 41st minute as she volleyed a corner kick from Simone Dekker to the back post beating the Clemson keeper, Lauren Heos. The Tigers regained a 2-1 lead just 1:15 into the second half as Heather Beem converted a penalty kick after Maryland was called for a handball in the box. But the Terps rallied back as junior Katie Ludwig scored a sensational goal in which she worked her way through three Clemson defenders and deposited the ball in the 63rd minute to tie the game.
* In the last game at Ludwig Field Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.) netted her first career goal for a dramatic upset victory for the Terps, 1-0, on Oct. 13, 2001, Maryland downed the then-No. 8 Tigers, 1-0 as Poulin scored in the 111th minute of double overtime off a pass from Jen Biscoe and beat keeper Katie Carson.
* The Terps also pulled off a dramatic upset of the Tigers four years ago on Oct. 17, 1999, when current New York Power midfielder Emily Janss scored in overtime to lift Maryland to a 2-1 overtime win over the then-No. 9 Tigers at Ludwig Field.
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Strength of Schedule
Florida State 141-55-15 70.4 Texas 140-61-20 67.9 Kentucky 130-58-17 67.6 North Carolina 130-61-18 66.5 MARYLAND 127-61-20 65.9
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Terps' Strength Of Schedule Among the Nation's Toughest
* The Terps play the fifth toughest schedule in the nation based on opponents' win percentage through last weekend. Maryland's foes have a 127-61-20 record for a 65.9 win percentage. Only Florida State (70.4), Texas (67.9), Kentucky (67.6) and North Carolina (66.5) have played opponents with a better win percentage. Maryland plays a tougher schedule that the following top 5 teams in the nation: No. 2 Notre Dame (57.1), No. 3 UCLA (61.3), No. 4 Virginia (60.7), and No. 5 Texas A&M (62.1). Every opponent Maryland plays for the remainder of the season has a record that is at least three games over .500. Overall 14 of the 18 Terp opponents have winning records.
Scoring Early and Often
* Maryland has had a knack for the early goal over its recent 4-2-1 streak. The Terps have scored the game's opening goal -- all within the first 16 minutes of action -- in six of the last seven games. In five of those instances, the goal came in the first five minutes of action: Ali Andrzejewski scored 2:54 into the 3-2 win over Towson, Katie Ludwig scored 1:14 into the 1-0 win over Loyola, Simone Dekker scored 2:13 into the 3-1 victory over No. 23 Tennessee, at Florida State, Mallory Mahar headed in a throw-in from Lindsay Givens just 4:38 into the match and Mahar turned the trick again as she headed in the first goal off a Kimmy Francis' corner kick just 3:39 into the win over James Madison. Overall, the Terps have scored the first goal in the game, seven times this season and are 5-1-1 in those games.
Ludwig Moves Up All-Time Scoring, Goals Charts
* With her five-point game vs. James Madison, senior Katie Ludwig is now tied for eighth on Maryland's all-time scoring chart with 44 points. With the two goals in the win over the Dukes, she is also tied for ninth all-time in career goals with 17.
* Ludwig is tied with Audra Weber (1991-94), who also had 44 career points. She is 10 points away from Kelly Amonte, brother of long-time NHL star Tony Amonte, who had 54 points in her four-year career from 1992-95.
* On the goals list, Ludwig is tied with WUSA star Emily Janss of the New York Power, who also had 17 from 1996-99. Ludwig can tie Weber on the goals list with one more tally and can tie Amonte for seventh with three more goals.
* Jenny Biscoe is close to cracking the all-time scoring list as she has 37 points, five off Janss, who had 42.
Terps Moving Up Assist Chart
* Two Terps have moved up the Maryland career assist chart this season. Jenny Biscoe is now fifth in assists with 17 and Lindsay Givens is sixth on the Terps' all-time list with 16 apiece. Biscoe picked up her 17th career helper assisting Katie Ludwig's late goal in the win over James Madison. Next up on the list is Michelle Salmon (1994-97), who had 19.
* Givens got her last helper in the Florida State game as her throw-in led to the Terps' opening goal by Mallory Mahar. Givens broke her tie with current Towson coach Leslie Kehrin Wray with 15. Givens moved into a tie with her throw-in assist at Washington in the season opener on Aug. 29. * Kimmy Francis now has 12 career assists and is tied for 10th on the list in just her second year with the Terps. She has four assists in her last six games.
* Givens has 11 of her 16 career assists on throw-ins. Biscoe led the squad in assists last season with nine including a school-record tying three at Rutgers on Sept. 6, 2002. Dana Jarzyniecki set the record originally vs. Howard on Oct. 11, 2000.
* Biscoe also stands fourth on the career chart for career game-winning goals with seven entering her senior season. She needs just one to tie Jackie Mynarski (1996-99) for third all-time with eight. Keri Sarver holds the school record with 17.
Playing The Best
* The Terps, who reached the second round of the NCAA Women's College Cup last season, will take on 11 teams that played in the 2002 College Cup. They will also face six teams that finished the 2002 season ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 including three from the top ten in No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Penn State and No. 10 Tennessee.
* "I strongly believe this 2003 women's soccer team is going to be the best yet in my time here at Maryland," said Shannon Higgins-Cirovski. "We have an incredibly challenging schedule again. I am excited to be playing some of the best teams in the nation, as the only way to be the best is to play the best -- and that's what we are striving to do again."
* Maryland will host two of the four teams that advanced to the NCAA College Cup Semifinals in North Carolina (Oct. 5, at 1 p.m.) and Penn State (3-0 loss on Sept. 7). The Terps will also face challenges from NCAA qualifiers and ACC foes Florida State (2-1 loss on Sept. 26), Clemson (Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. - Alumni Night), Virginia (Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.) and Wake Forest (Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.).
* Once again, Higgins-Cirovski has scheduled one of the nation's competitive schedules. The Terps take on seven teams in this week's NSCAA poll including four of the top 10. The Terps face. 1 North Carolina (4-0 loss on Oct. 5), at No. 4 Virginia (Oct. 14), at No. 9 Washington (2-1 loss in overtime on Aug. 29), No. 14 Penn State (3-0 loss on Sept. 7), No. 15 Duke (Oct. 31), No. 16 Wake Forest (Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.) and No. 24 Clemson (Friday night) . The following opponents are listed in other receiving votes or are ranked in other polls: Tennessee (3-1 win on Sept. 20), Florida State (2-1 loss on Sept. 26) and Navy (Nov. 2).
* The win over No. 23 Tennessee marked the 34th victory for the Terps over a ranked team since the program started in 1987, all of those wins have come since 1991. The win was the 11th over a ranked team with Higgins-Cirovski as the Terps' head coach.
* During each of Higgins-Cirovski's seasons at Maryland, she has led the Terps to at least one upset win or tie 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; a 1-0 overtime over No. 8 Clemson on Oct. 13, 2001 and a 1-1 tie at No. 2 North Carolina last season, on Nov. 1, 2002. * Maryland has played the No. 1 team in the country on 17 occasions, 16 vs. North Carolina and once vs. Notre Dame in 1996 and is still seeking its first victory in a game vs. the No. 1 team.
Francis Named ACC Player of the Week
* Sophomore midfielder/forward Kimmy Francis was named this week's Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Terps to the Maryland/adidas Classic title over on the weekend of Sept. 17-20. She was also named to the Soccer America Team of the Week of the first time in her career.
* Francis, a Richboro, Pa., native was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Classic, having led Maryland to wins over Loyola and No. 23 Tennessee. Versus the Greyhounds, the sophomore dished out an assist on the game-winning goal, knocking off Loyola, 1-0. Later in the weekend, the midfielder/forward recorded the game-winning goal against the Lady Vols.
* Francis leads Maryland in scoring with 13 points on five goals and three assists this season. Francis has a four-game scoring streak, as she has nine points on three goals and three assists on the team's 3-0-1 run. She has already passed her entire goal total of last season when she had four. She's Maryland's first ACC Player of the Week since Audra Poulin earned the honor on Oct. 16, 2001.
The 2003 Captains
* Maryland will have a trio of team captains this season: midfielder Jen Biscoe and defenders Lindsay Givens and Jennifer Lovecchio (Vineland, N.J.). Givens has served as a captain for the past two seasons while Biscoe is in her second season as a captain and Lovecchio her first. Both Biscoe and Givens were both named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic team in 2001.
What's Up With Women's Soccer
* Maryland sophomore midfielder Danielle Malagari (Clarksburg, Md.) is writing this season's team journal, "What's Up With Women's Soccer." The sophomore opened the diary with a five-day journal from the team's team to Seattle to open the season. She has continued with periodic updates during the season.
Media Information
* WMUC Radio: Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast up to 11 Maryland women's soccer games in 2003. 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. Ariel Agami will handle the play-by-play, Eric Gladstein (color commentary), Jordan Weinstein and Jared Hopkins (color commentary/stats).
* 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@umd.edu with the message "Women's Soccer Email" as the subject and you will receive every update distributed about the team.
* Scores on your cell phone: Fans can now get score updates sent directly to their cell phones! Just go to any schedule page at www.umterps.com to sign up for the service.
* Terps on the Web: For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please locate www. umterps.com on the Internet.
