Aug. 21, 2003

College Park, Md. - The focus for the 2003 field hockey team is Maryland P.R.I.D.E.: Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort. It sounds like a simple concept but it is what Terrapin head coach Missy Meharg believes will carry the team to win its' fourth NCAA Championship title in school history.

"If we can instill PRIDE into the athletes, and the program and really get them to buy into it, success and winning will be the byproduct," says Meharg. "That has been our philosophy when we've had great teams, championships teams. I know it works."

This edition of the Maryland field hockey team has a standard of hockey to live up to, one that is rooted in the historical success of the program which includes three national championships, back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Final Four in 1999 and 2000, and seven overall, and five ACC crowns.

Every team member is expected and can contribute to the success of this team. With 12 letterwinners returning, seven starters back, and a talented incoming class with three transfers from quality D-I programs, UM has 24-player roster that is balanced throughout with a lot of depth at all.

The Terps seem to be buying into Meharg's theme already. The players have come into the preseason with an extremely high level of fitness, evidence of their hard work and dedication over the summer, elevating the standard of daily practice.

"Many of the players passed the preseason fitness test. The freshmen have also come in ready. Right away, we will be in a great competitive position and it's really nice to have the freshmen be able to push the rest of the team," comments Meharg.

The team coming in this season is a young squad. Only three players have NCAA Final Four experience. Juniors Colleen Barbieri and Kristin Harris were both freshmen on the 2000 national semifinal squad, while classmate Sara Silvetti was a redshirt freshman. However, with the depth, physical preparedness and PRIDE, this team has all the ingredients of a championship team.

OFFENSE
Two years ago, Maryland was the top-ranked team in the nation in scoring offense, but last year, the Terps slipped a bit and finished the year rated No. 14.

"To be statistically in the top five in the nation in scoring, you have to hit and be consistent on penalty corners. That is something we work very hard on and we feel confident we are in a much better place [than last year]," states Meharg. "At the same time, last year's attack, in general, was exceedingly young."

Another year goes by and another year wiser, Barbieri, along with her tremendous speed, will continue to be the main threat for the Terps. A 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year, she was second on the team in scoring, en route to earning All-America honors for the first time.

Sophomore Tiffany Marsh is an incredible shooter who is coming off of a successful freshman campaign where she led all rookie Terps in scoring (eight goals, 10 points). Classmate Jackie Ciconte was not far behind Marsh, tallying six goals and 13 points. She will be looked for to make significant contributions once again.

Also a sophomore, Lauren Powley earned All-America honors last year. She started every game last season and has the ability to score coming out of the midfield.

Junior co-captain Kristin Harris and sophomore Amber McQuillan complete a core group of talented midfielders who will contribute to the attack.

Sophomore Lauren Foundos has returned to campus in incredible shape and freshman Megan Fox gained valuable experience and was successful in the Futures program over the summer. Classmate Anja Boettcher comes all the way from Germany. She is technically sound and the coaching staff is impressed with her scoring abilities.

Junior transfer Meredith Long has an innate ability to score and will see time at midfield. Long comes to College Park after two successful seasons at Boston University, a solid program out of the America East.

Lauren Pruitt is the only true senior on the squad. She made the team as a walkon and has had a successful three years with UM's club team. Speedy and very athletic, she will also look to contribute on the forward line.

"What we have is a very well-balanced attack of 10 players and a well-balanced defense of 14. The players we have coming in are very homogeneous and can go either way," states Meharg.

DEFENSE
In the backfield, the Terps will have to overcome the loss of All-American Izzy Palmer but any current Terp has the ability to step up and take over the role of field general.

After redshirting her freshman campaign, junior Sara Silvetti is the only four-year player on the roster. One of the team's co-captains, she will play the left back position, one of the most challenging positions on the field. Silvetti has very quick hands and can direct the entire defense from her position on the left side. A good communicator, she has the best possession skills on the team.

Fellow co-captain Kristin Harris will be playing in the midfield line. She has great attacking skills and a contagious work rate.

Returning as the team's top tackler is junior Emily Boyer. She'll return to her position at right back where she exhibits strong tackles.

"Emily is very fit, very vocal and a very technical player. She's led the team in fitness and physical preparation. I look for her to attack a little more from the right back position and continue to do some great defending," says Meharg.

Sophomore Laura Blongiewicz is playing some of her best field hockey and will see time in the backfield, as will freshmen Brooke Johnson, Kristina Edmonds and Paula Infante. Infante is captain of the Chilean National Team and will be fresh off her stint at the Pan American Games. She looks to make an immediate impact on defense.

GOALKEEPERS
"Marybeth has been a great addition to the staff," said Meharg of her newest assistant coach Marybeth Freeman. "She has a successful background to draw from as a national champion and a successful goalkeeper at Old Dominion."

Freeman will mentor the Terps three goaltenders, each of which has plenty to offer the squad. Junior Kerry Hearsey is the most experienced netminder of the three. She ended the season ranked fourth in the nation with a 1.04 goals against average. She was also in the net in the four-consecutive shutout matches that tied the school record.

Sophomore Tori Cano is very athletic. She gained valuable experience towards the end of the year, logging quality minutes in the NCAA Tournament, claiming a win against William & Mary in the first round of action.

Also vying for time is redshirt freshman Christina Restivo. She has improved her communication from the cage and is physically ready to compete for playing minutes.

NEWCOMERS
Ten newcomers join the squad in 2003, ranging from three transfers, a walkon and four true freshmen.

True freshmen Kristina Edmonds, Emily Trycinski and Megan Fox all hail from the Keystone State. Edmonds' resume includes playing at the Junior Olympics, playing for the U-16 U.S. National Team and was selected as an alternate to the U.S. Under-20 squad. Fox has been successful with her club squad, was named all-conference and participated in the National Futures Tournament. Trycinski also participated in the Futures Tournament and was a two-sport athlete in high school.

True freshmen Brooke Johnson and Paula Infante and junior Anja Boettcher all travel a far distance to play for the Terps. All three bring a lot of playing experience and are ready to compete. Johnson comes from Australia, Boettcher has waited two year to be a Terp and will finally get her chance traveling from Germany. Infante, a native of Chile, will be close to her sister, Camila, who will be playing for nearby American University.

Junior Heather Kenney comes to Maryland after two seasons at the University of Massachusetts. She started 33 of 39 games played for the Minutewomen. Kenney will be joined by Meredith Long from Boston University.

Sophomore Emily Beach is a defender who spent two seasons at the conference rival University of Virginia. A local product from Bethesda, Md., she was a Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year and Montgomery Journal Player of the Year. Beach will roam the sidelines this coming season and learn the Terps' system.

Lauren Pruitt is a senior who joins the team after walking on in the spring. Also a local product, she was a member of the Maryland field hockey club team for three years and was the team's leading scorer.

FACILITY
Not only is the Maryland field hockey team looking forward to the new season, but they are also looking forward to a brand new facility which will be one of the top F.I.H. (International Field Hockey Federation) facilities in the world.

"I can honestly say the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex will be one of the premier F.I.H. facilities in the world. Everything from the playing surface to the remote control six-gun cannon watering system is top notch. The scoreboard is magnificent and the elevated fan seating will be close to the action, making this a terrific hockey venue," says Meharg with great enthusiasm for the new Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. "I couldn't be happier for our athletes to compete in such an outstanding facility."

The new turf will be ready for the Terps' Terrapin Invitational which opens the home slate. Phase II, which includes the main entrance with iron gates, storage, concessions, visiting and officials locker rooms and bathrooms will begin during the season, followed by phase III which will complete the facility including home locker rooms, an equipment room, media rooms and a training facility.

Surrounded on three sides with trees, Maryland will have built a picturesque facility where the focus will be on hockey.

SCHEDULE
Maryland opens the 2003 season at the site of the NCAA's Final Four in Amherst, Mass.

"There are advantages to opening at UMass. The biggest is that it is tranquil. It's a great place to get away after a tough couple weeks of preseason. The field is terrific. It is one of the best playing surfaces in the country and a great place to play," says Meharg.

"With that said, we are going to make Amherst our home anticipating a return trip in November for the Final Four," continues Meharg.

At UMass, the Terps will play three games over the Labor Day weekend beginning with New Hampshire on Aug. 30. On Aug. 31 the Minutewomen and UM square off and, after a day off, Maryland battles Quinnipiac on Sept. 2 to close out the trip up North.

The first of the home-and-home series with perennial poiwer Old Dominion takes place on Sept. 6 in Norfolk, Va., which sets up a nine-game homestand.

The Terps will get their first opportunity to compete at the new Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex Sept. 12-14, as UM hosts the Terrapin Invitational which features local rival American, Pacific and Rutgers.

Maryland will host Michigan out of the Big Ten for a rematch of the 1999 and 2001 NCAA championship games on Sept. 19.

Back-to-back home contests against the top teams in the Ivy League, Harvard (Sept. 21) and Princeton (Sept. 26), will be the last preparation before the start of ACC competition.

Last year's national champion Wake Forest visits College Park on Sept. 28 and Virginia also pays the Terps a visit on Oct. 4.

One of the top teams in the Big Ten, Ohio State closes out the nine-game home stretch for UM on Oct. 5. The game will also mark the first televised contest from the new facility as College Sports Network will broadcast the match.

Maryland finally hits the road again for a game at Duke, which could be the surprise of the ACC, on Oct. 11. The Terps return home for two more games, including another contest on Oct. 18 against the Lady Monarchs. This time, the match will take place within the friendly confines of the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

A trip to North Carolina on Oct. 25 closes out the ACC regular season slate and the Terps host American on Oct. 28 to close out the regular season home schedule. James Madison plays host to Maryland for the regular season finale on Oct. 31.

This year's ACC Tournament will be hosted by the Cavaliers, Nov. 6-9. The Terps look to regain their championship title after losing in the title game last year for the first time in five years.

NCAA Tournament action begins Nov. 6-9 at campus sites and the semifinals and title games scheduled for Nov. 21 and 23 in Amherst, Mass.