Third-Seeded Field Hockey Opens NCAA Tournament Action at Home
11/14/2003 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 14, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex (College Park, Md.) Sat.-Sun., Nov. 15-16, 2003Friday, Nov. 15 - First Round California vs. #3 seed Maryland, 11 a.m. Penn State vs. Princeton, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16 - Second Round Winner of First Round Games, 2 p.m.
Terps Seeded Third in NCAA Tournament; Host First & Second Rounds
* Maryland earned the third seed in the NCAA Tournament and also received a bid to host the first and second rounds. The Terps open the postseason with the California Bear who earned a tourney bid by winning the play-in game on Tuesday.
* Ranked third in the nation, Maryland is making its ninth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 17th overall. The Terps have hosted a round of the postseason tournament 10 ten times in school history, all coming in the last 12 years.
* The winner of the Maryland-Cal tilt goes on to play the winner of the Penn State-Princeton matchup on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
About the NCAA Tournament
* Sixteen teams earned bids into the NCAA Tournament, with four sites hosting the first and second rounds of action. Only the top four teams are seeded, all of which are ACC teams - #1 Wake Forest, #2 Duke, #3 Maryland and #4 North Carolina. Six teams entered by way of automatic bid, including Ivy League Champion Princeton. American and Cal both won their respective play-in games to claim a spot in the tournament. Eight other teams, including the four ACC teams and Penn State, were given at-large bids.
* The four sites of four teams are College Park (Maryland), Storrs, Conn. (UConn), East Lansing, Mich. (Michigan State), and Durham, N.C. (Duke).
* The winners of the first and second rounds go onto play for the national championship, Nov. 21 (semifinals) and 23 (national championship), at Garber Field in Amherst, Mass. The defending national champion is this year's top seed, Wake Forest.
The ACC in the NCAA Tournament
* Only the top four teams in the NCAA Tournament are seeded and all four teams this year are ACC teams. ACC Champion and defending national champion Wake Forest is the top seed in the tournament. Duke is the second seed and is one of two conference squads hosting the first and second rounds. Third-seeded Maryland was also awarded a host site and North Carolina was tabbed the fourth seed. The Deacons travel to Storrs, Conn., for the first and second rounds, while UNC travels to East Lansing.
Terps in the NCAA Tournament
* Maryland is 26-13 all-time in postseason tournaments (includes a 3-1 performance in the 1979 AIAW). Making their ninth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 17th national championship appearance overall, the Terps won the national three times - 1987, 1993, 1999. Head coach Missy Meharg guided the Terps to 14 of those national tournament appearance, winning the NCAA crown twice.
A Look at the Terps
* With Maryland's back-to-back 7-0 victories against Rutgers and Pacific in the Terrapin Invitational, 16th-year head coach Missy Meharg recorded her 250th-career victory and boasts a record of 262-84-9 (.751). A 1985 graduate of Delaware, Meharg was named Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2002. During her tenure, she has led the Terps to two national championship titles (1993 and 1999) and five Atlantic Coast Championship crowns. Maryland's all-time winningest coach, she has been named National Coach of the Year four times.
* Boasting the fourth-best offense in the nation, the Terps are led by a pair of underclassmen. Freshman Paula Infante has been the team's points leader the entire season, collecting 41 on the season. Along with sophomore Jackie Ciconte, both are tied for the team lead with 17 goals and four game-winning goals. Twelve different Terps have scored at least a goal this season and four have scored in double-digits. Maryland has outscored its opponents this season, 83-25.
* A permanent fixure on the penalty corners team, junior Emily Boyer leads the team with 15 assists. Right behind her is sophomore All-American Lauren Powley with 14. Powley did not record a point all last year. Both are ranked among the top eight in the nation in that category.
* The goalkeeping duties have been assigned to sophomore Tori Cano. Directing a Maryland defense that is tied for seventh in the country, Cano ranks sixth among the nation's goalkeepers, sporting a 1.11 goals against average.
* The Terps return 11 letterwinners from last year's 17-5 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and reached the ACC Tournament finals. Seven starters return, including 2002 NFHCA first team All-American and 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year Colleen Barbieri. Barbieri is the team's top-returning scorer. Maryland also welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad who have made an immediate impact.
Terps' Last Time Out
* The Terps defeated Virginia, 5-1, in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Five different Maryland players scored in the game, including junior Colleen Barbieri who scored the game-winner, moving her into a tie for 10th place on Maryland's all-time goals list at 42.
* In the semifinals, the Terps fell to top-seeded and top-ranked Wake Forest, 4-1. Sophomore Jackie Ciconte scored Maryland's only goal while classmate Tori Cano recorded a career-high tying six saves.
Series versus...
* CALIFORNIA: Maryland leads the all-time series, 4-0. The Terps have defeated the Bears by a combined score of 22-1.
* LAST MEETING: The Terps defeated the Bears, 3-1, to keep their record spotless against the West Coast team. Jackie Ciconte tallied the game-winning goal in the second half. * PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series, 18-8-1, but the teams have not faced each other since 1996.
* LAST MEETING: Despite being so close in proximity, the last time Maryland faced Penn State was in 1996. The Terps defeated the Lions, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Norfolk, Va. * TIGERS: With a win earlier this season, the Terps improved their all-time record against the Tigers to 7-4-1.
* LAST MEETING: Maryland won an exciting 3-2 overtime contest at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on Sept. 26, extending its win streak to 10 games. The Terps were ahead, 2-0, in the second half, but the Tigers scored two goals within an 18 second span to tie the game and send it into overtime. In the extra period, the Terps drew a penalty shot which Paula Infante slammed into the back of the cage for the win.
Terps Among Nation's Best
* Both the Maryland offense (3.92) is ranked fourth in the nation and the defense is seventh at 1.18, leading to the second-best winning percentage in the country at 0.857, which also ties with Richmond.
* Five different Terps are among the nation's top 20 in several statistical categories. A full list of where the Terps rank is listed on the right-hand column of page three.
In The ACC Stats
* Ten different Terps rank among the top 10 in the ACC in key statistical categories. Below is a list:
Points: Paula Infante, 5th, 41 Jackie Ciconte, T9th, 36 Goals per Game: Paula Infante, 6th, 0.85 Jackie Ciconte, 7th, 0.81 Anja Boettcher, 8th, 0.76 Assists per Game: Emily Boyer, 6th, 0.71 Lauren Powley, 7th, 0.67 Saves: Tori Cano, 5th, 49 Christina Restivo, 6th, 11 Shutouts: Tori Cano, T4th, 2 Goals Against Ave.: Tori Cano, 2nd, 1.11* The Terps' 3.95 goals and 2.86 assists per game are fourth in the conference. Maryland also ranks third with a 1.18 goals against average. The team is tied with Duke for third with eight shutouts. The 10.76 points per game is fourth in the ACC.
Terp Attack
* The formidable attack from two years ago seems to be back. Maryland has scored more goals than it had all last season. After 19 regular season games played, the Terps have posted 83 goals. In 22 games last year, the Terps scored 59 goals.
* Two years ago, the Terps were the top-ranked offense in the nation. Maryland ranked 14th at the end of last season.
Terps "D" Up
* Eight of Maryland's 18 wins have come by virtue of shutout, allowing only 25 goals this season. The shots and penalty corners have been hard to come by for opponents as well. Maryland opponents average 5.62 shots per game and 2.76 penalty corners per game. It's no wonder the Terrapin defense has been so hard to penetrate. The backfield ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense at 1.18.
Three Terps Named to All-ACC Squad
* Three underclassmen were named to the All-ACC squad which was announced at the annual tournament banquet. Freshman Paula Infante and sophomores Jackie Ciconte and Lauren Powley were first-time honorees.
* Since 1993, at least three Terps have been named to the all-conference squad.
All-Tourney Honors
* Both defenders, freshmen Paula Infante and Brooke Johnson were named to the ACC All-Tournament team which was announced at the conclusion of the event. Infante and Johnson helped Maryland reach the semifinal round of the conference tournament, defeating Virignia, 5-1, before falling to #1 Wake Forest, 4-1.
Ciconte is Second Terp to Earn ACColade
* Sophomore Jackie Ciconte is the second Terrapin this season to earn ACC Player of the Week honors. She was given the honor after leading Maryland with a goal and an assist in the thrilling, 3-2, overtime win at No. 4 North Carolina, moving Maryland into a tie for second in the conference standings. Both goals she took part in gave the Terps the lead.
Ciconte Not Slumping
* Jackie Ciconte does not know the meaning of "sophomore slump" because she is having a breakout year. Playing in every game and starting all but one match this season, she is tied for the team lead with 17 goals, while posting 36 points. All are career bests. She also has a career-high four game-winning goals, tallying her fourth in the 3-1 victory over Ohio State. With her two-goal performance against the Buckeyes, Ciconte is second on the team with four multiple-goal games.
* Ciconte played 19 of the Terps' 22 games last year, making four starts. She totaled six goals, one assist, 13 points and three game-winning goals.
Nearing the Century Mark
* A first team All-American last year, junior Colleen Barbieri is on the verge of breaking the 100-career point plateau. She currently has 99 points. She has also scored 42 career points tying for 10th on Maryland's all-time list.
Seeing Double
* Six different Terps have scored at least two goals in a game. Team scoring leader freshman Paula Infante has had the most two-goal performances, scoring a pair in five games. Sophomore Jackie Ciconte has accomplished that feat four times. Junior All-American Colleen Barbieri, junior Anja Boettcher and junior co-captain Sara Silvetti have recorded two two-goal games. Sophomore Amber McQuillan rounds out the list, tallying two goals in the win over Rutgers. Boettcher is the only Terp this season to record a hat trick.
Meharg Reaches 250
* Maryland's 7-0 win over Pacific on the final day of the Terrapin Invitational gave head coach Missy Meharg her 250th-career victory. Already the program's all-time winningest coach, she boasts a record of 262-84-9 in 16 years. On Sept. 20, 1998, Meharg became Maryland's winningest coach with a 3-0 win vs. UMass, chalking up her 153rd career triumph.
UM Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of NCAA Championship
* Maryland celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Terps' 1993 National Championship title run at halftime of the Old Dominion game on Oct. 18. Head coach Missy Meharg's first national championship as a coach, that team defeated North Carolina, 2-1, in penalty strokes to take home Maryland's first field hockey crown in six years. The Terps were 21-3 in 1993 and 4-0 in ACC play. They lost to the Tar Heels in the championship game of the ACC Tournament, 2-0, but bounced back to win an even bigger game in the NCAA finals.
Terps to Named to U.S. Team
* Four former Terps were selected for the U.S. National Team's residency program. Katie Kauffman-Beach ('97), Carissa Messimer ('03) Dina Rizzo ('02) and Keli Smith ('01) were named to the 19-player roster which was selected after open tryouts held at the team's training site in Virginia Beach, Va. The U.S. will begin preparations for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, March 19-28, 2004, in Auckland, New Zealand, including hosting the International Atlantic Cup which features four of the top 10 ranked teams in the world.
* Kauffman-Beach, Rizzo and Smith each played for the U.S. team this summer, helping the Stars & Stripes capture a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Kauffman-Beach was named team captain of that squad. Messimer is making her debut on the senior squad, having been a member of the 2001 Junior World Cup Team and 1999 Under-20 squad.
Tough Schedule
* The Terps continually play one of the toughest schedules in the nation. This year's slate is no different as Maryland has faced 10 teams ranked in this week's NFHCA Coaches Poll, with the Terps facing their 11th ranked opponent in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The top four spots in the poll are occupied by ACC teams, including Maryland. Wake Forest has been the top team in the nation all season, followed by Duke, Terps and North Carolina. Until three weeks ago, all five ACC teams were in the top 20.
* The Terps are 9-3 this season against teams ranked in this week's NFHCA Top 20 Coaches Poll. Its only three losses have come at the hands of the current top two teams in the country, No. 1 Wake Forest and No. 2 Duke. The Terps swept the home-and-home series against No. 8 Old Dominion for the first time ever this year.
Terps in Openers
* The Terrapins are 25-3-2 in season openers since program's first year in 1974. Maryland went unbeaten the first 15 years, going 13-0-2 before losing back-to-back openers in 1989 (at Virginia) and 1990 (at Old Dominion). UM has won the last seven opening games of the season.
* When opening the home slate, the Terps are 24-4-2 all-time, having won the last five home openers in a row.
Infante Earns conference honor
* Freshman defender Paula Infante was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week for the opening week of the season on Sept. 1. The Santiago, Chile, native tallied three goals and two assists in the Terps' first two wins of the season. She also contributed to Maryland's defensive effort which allowed just three shots and one penalty corner combined over both games.
Maryland No. 3 in First Poll of the Year
* The Maryland Terrapins were ranked third in the initial National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top 20 poll of the year which was released on Sept. 9. Prior to that announcement, the Terps were 4-0, including posting a 2-1 victory over arch-rival Old Dominion.
Terps Name Captains
* Juniors Sara Silvetti and Kristin Harris have been named captains for the 2003 season. Silvetti, a redshirt junior, is a back and has started every game for the Terps the last two seasons. Harris is a midfielder who has started all but one game the last two seasons and was named second team NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region.
Up Next
* The winners of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament go on to play for the national championship at Garber Field in Amherst, Mass. The semifinals will be played on Nov. 21 and the national crown will be decided on Nov. 23.
