Women's Soccer Game Notes: Terps Face Clemson In ACC First Round
11/4/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 4, 2003
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#25 MARYLAND (10-7-1) vs. #23 CLEMSON (11-5-2) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2003 * 2:30 p.m. SAS SOCCER STADIUM (7,000/Grass), CARY, N.C. Live Stats: theacc.com
Maryland Faces Clemson In ACC First Round
* The No. 25 Maryland Terrapins women's soccer team heads to the ACC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 seed and No. 23 Clemson in the second of four first-round games at the SAS Soccer Stadium in Cary, N.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m. Maryland captured the regular-season meeting against the Tigers, beating them 2-1 at Ludwig Field on Oct. 10.
* The winner of Wednesday's match will advance to the ACC Tournament semifinals and face the winner No. 2 seeded Florida State/No. 7 seeded Wake Forest match which will be played at Noon on Wednesday. The title match will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m., and will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet, Fox Sports South and Sunshine Network.
* The Terps (10-7-1 overall, 2-5 ACC) are hot heading into the 2003 Tournament, having won three of their last four games. The Terps posted a 2-1 victory over Navy in their regular-season finale on Sunday night at Ludwig Field. The Terps' top two scorers Kimmy Francis (Richboro, Pa.) and Ali Andrzejewski (Lutherville, Md.) scored the team's two goals. Francis leads the scoring parade with 20 points on seven goals and six assists. Andrzejewski has come on late in the season and has 14 points on five goals and four assists.
* The Tigers are 11-5-2 also 4-3 in the league. They finished third -- winning the tie-breaker with Duke by virtue of their 1-0 win in South Carolina on Oct. 24. The Tigers are riding a four-game winning streak having beaten conference opponents Wake Forest, Duke and Virginia over the last three weeks. Prior to the hot streak they had lost three in a row including that 2-1 decision to Maryland. Tigers are led by freshman Courtney Foster, who has 31 points on 13 goals and five assists. Allison Graham is among league leaders in assists with 10 and also has five goals for 20 points. Clemson's goalkeeper Lauren Whitt has allowed just 14 goals and has a 0.79 goals against average, starting all 18 games and playing all but 63 minutes. She joined the Tigers as a sixth-year senior student after finishing five years at Vanderbilt.
Series History: Could It Be a One-goal Game Again?
* Maryland and Clemson have a history of playing tight games including this season's 2-1 game at Ludwig Field. Last season, the Terps became the first team in the 12-game series to win on the road, 3-2 on Oct. 20, 2002. Overall, the Terps lead the series, 7-6, with Maryland outscoring the Tigers 19-18 goals in the 13 games. The last six regular-season games in the series have been one-goal affairs. Maryland is 6-0 all-time vs. Clemson at home.
* In this season's meeting on Oct. 10, Maryland capitalized on a Clemson defensive zone turnover 10 minutes into the game as Ali Andrzejewski blasted a shot from the left edge of the box past keeper Lauren Whitt, who had allowed only three goals all season coming into tonight with a 0.27 goals-against average. Mallory Mahar (Medina, Ohio) trickled a header past a crowded Clemson goal line seven minutes into the second half to make it 2-0. Throw-in specialist Lindsay Givens (Downingtown, Pa.) set up Mahar with a perfect entry pass. The Tigers struck 10 minutes later when Courtney Foster got past the Terp backline on a through pass from Allison Graham and touched it past keeper Kristen Barnhill for the 2-1 final.
* In last season's game, Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) 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 (Ringwood, N.J.) 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 (Mount Laurel, N.J.) 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.
* Clemson won the only ACC Tournament game -- and only neutral site game between the teams at the 2000 ACC Tournament held in Durham. The Tigers beat Maryland 2-0 in the first round in a game that started at 10 p.m. due to numerous overtimes and delays in the earlier games of the day.
Maryland The ACC Tournament
* Maryland has an all-time record of 7-15-2 (Maryland won both ties on penalty kicks) in ACC Tournament games dating back to the first year of the event in 1988.
* Last season, Maryland advanced the ACC Tournament semifinals for the first time in three years, as they knocked off host Florida State, 4-2 on Nov. 7, before a television audience on Sunshine Network. All four goals in the win came from freshmen: Ali Andrzejewski, Simone Dekker, Kimmy Francis and Mallory Mahar. Maryland lost North Carolina, the eventual league champion, North Carolina in the semifinals, 4-0.
* In 1999, as its highest seed ever, No. 2 seed Maryland advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Duke on Nov. 4, 1999 before falling to No. 3 seed Wake Forest, 1-0, in the semis on Nov. 5.
* Maryland had its only runs to the ACC finals in 1995 and 1997, the only other time the ACC Women's Soccer Tournament was held at Wake Forest. In 1995, as the No. 3 seed, the Terps defeated Clemson 2-0 in the first round and NC State 1-0 in the second round before falling to eventual champion North Carolina 3-0.
* In 1997, Maryland escaped NC State in the first round, 4-3, in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 in regulation. The Terps advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win over Duke. In that win, Jackie Mynarski scored Maryland's first goal, while Keri Sarver added the winner. Ali Wolff (Richmond, Va.) made five saves for the win. The Terps dropped the final to North Carolina, 4-0.
Against Clemson In ACC Tourney
* The Terps and Tigers have played three times before in the ACC Tournament with the Tigers winning twice.
* Maryland defeated Clemson, 2-0 in the 1995 meeting, when No. 3 Maryland hosted the event and advanced to the championship game. In that first-round win on Nov. 2, 1995, Maryland received goals from Michelle Deville and Emmy Harbo to record the victory.
* The following season at Clemson, Maryland fell to the Tigers 2-1 in a first round match. The only goal for the No. 6 seed Terps came from Keri Sarver on Nov. 7, 1996.
* In 2000, the game started at nearly 10 p.m. in Durham, N.C., and Clemson forward Deliah Arrington scored both of the Tigers, goals in the 2-0 win.
In Cary For the ACC's
* This is the first time the ACC Tournament is being held at the SAS Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. It is the 11th time the event will be in the state of North Carolina.
As The No. 6 Seed
* This season marks the fourth time Maryland will be the No. 6 seed at the ACC Tournament. The Terps are 0-3-1 as the No. 6 seed, winning the tie match on penalty kicks in 1994.
* In 2001, Maryland lost to Florida State, 7-2 in the first round as the No. 6 seed.
* As the No. 6 seed in 1996, Maryland fell to host Clemson in the first round, 2-1.
* In the 1994 event, the Terps defeated Virginia in the first round on PK's (1-1 in regulation and 4-3 in PK's) before falling to host No. 1 seed North Carolina in the semifinals, 5-0.
* In 1999, Maryland placed its highest in ACC regular-season history, earning its first-ever No. 2 seed.
Brief ACC Tournament History * This season marks the 16th ACC women's soccer tournament. North Carolina has won the last 15 championships after dropping the inaugural title game to NC State, 2-1 on penalty kicks in 1988. * UNC coach Anson Dorrance has won 15 titles and former NC State coach Larry Gross won the 1988 title. * North Carolina won last year's tournament with a 6-0 victory in the final over Clemson.
Higgins-Cirovski In The ACC's
* This will be head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski's fifth ACC Tournament as a coach. In her first in 1999, Maryland beat Duke and lost to Wake Forest. Overall, she has a 2-4 record at Maryland in the ACC's after the win over Florida State last season.
* As a player at North Carolina, Higgins-Cirovski played for the 1988 and 1989 North Carolina teams, which were ACC runners-up and champions, respectively.
* Higgins-Cirovski scored her only ACC Tournament goal against Maryland in the 1988 matchup that UNC won 3-0. In the 1989 title game, she assisted on three goals including the game-winner scored by Mia Hamm.
Terps' Strength Of Schedule Among the Nation's Toughest
* The Terps play the second-toughest schedule in the nation based on opponents' win percentage through last weekend's play. Maryland's foes have a 196-103-32 record for a 640 win percentage. Only Florida State (66.5) has a higher percentage. To show the strength of the ACC, note that four of the top five teams at in the league including North Carolina (63.4) and Clemson (63.4). Maryland plays a tougher schedule than the following Top 5 teams in the nation: No. 2 UCLA (58.1), No. 3 Notre Dame (57.2), No. 4 Santa Clara (59.5) and No. 5 Colorado (52.9). Overall, 14 of the 18 Terp opponents have winning records.
Scoring Early and Often
* Maryland has had a knack for the early goal this season. The Terps have scored the game's opening goal -- all within the first 18 minutes of action -- in 10 of the last 14 games. In seven of those instances, the goal came in the first 6:20 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. Andrzejewski scored 10:15 into the 2-1 win over Clemson. Ashly Kennedy opened the scoring at George Mason just 6:20 into the game as she banged in a Francis' corner kick. In their last game, the win over Wake Forest, the Terps scored their fastest goal of the year, as Jenny Biscoe headed home a pass from Andrzejewski just 19 seconds into the match. Overall, the Terps have scored the first goal in the game 11 times this season and are 9-1-1 in those games.
Ludwig Moves Up All-Time Scoring, Goals Charts
* With her three -point game vs. Wake Forest, senior Katie Ludwig is now eighth on Maryland's all-time scoring chart with 47 points. With her goal in the win over the Demon Deacons, she is also tied for eighth all-time in career goals with 18.
* Ludwig moved past Audra Weber (1991-94), who had 44 career points. She is seven 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 moved past WUSA star Emily Janss of the New York Power, who also had 17 from 1996-99. Ludwig tied Weber on the goals list and is two more tallyies from tying Amonte for seventh.
* Jenny Biscoe is close to cracking the all-time scoring list as she has 40 points, two off Janss, who had 42.
Terps Moving Up Assist Chart
* Three Terps have moved up the Maryland career assist chart this season. Jenny Biscoe and Lindsay Givens are now fifth and sixth respectively in assists with 18 and 17. Biscoe picked up her 18th career helper assisting Kimmy Francis' opening goal in the win over Navy. Next up on the list is Michelle Salmon (1994-97), who had 19.
* Givens got her last helper in the Clemson win -- her third of the season -- all on throw-ins this season. Her last two throws set up Mallory Mahar goals.
* Kimmy Francis now has 14 career assists and is tied for eighth on the list in just her second year with the Terps. She six assists this season -- four on corner kicks. Overall eight of her 14 career assists have come in corner kicks.
* Givens has 12 of her 17 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 (2-1 win on Oct. 10), Virginia (1-0 loss on Oct. 14) and Wake Forest (5-1 win on Oct. 25).
* 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 12. The Terps face No. 1 North Carolina (4-0 loss on Oct. 5), No. 7 Penn State (3-0 loss on Sept. 7), at No. 9 Virginia (1-0 loss on Oct. 14), at No. 13 Washington (2-1 loss in overtime on Aug. 29), No. 18 Tennessee (3-1 win on Sept. 20), No. 19 Florida State (2-1 loss on Sept. 26) and No. 23 Clemson (2-1 win on Oct. 10). The following opponents are listed in other receiving votes or are ranked in other polls: Duke (1-0 loss on Oct. 31), Wake Forest (5-1 win on Oct. 25) and NC State (1-0 loss on Oct. 19).
* The wins over No. 23 Tennessee and No. 24 Clemson marked the 34th and 35th victories for the Terps over a ranked team since the program started in 1987, all of those wins have come since 1991. Those wins were the 11th and 12th over a ranked team with Higgins-Cirovski as the Terps' head coach. She added to the list with the 5-1 pounding of Wake Forest on Oct. 25.
* 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.
