Oct. 28, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Colleen Barbieri is one of six senior who is going to be honored in a pre-game ceremony on Friday vs. James Madison. She answers questions about her four years as a Terrapin, about her teammates and about her mother who has cancer.

Q: Characterize the senior class.
CB: It's kind of hard. We're all different in so many ways.

Q: What has it been like playing with them for four years?
CB: It's been great. Like I said, we're all different. We all come from different backgrounds. Emily and I have been together since the U.S. program at 15 or 16. So we've been playing together for a long time. To bring in Sara, Harris, and everyone else, it's been great seeing the different playing backgrounds everyone comes from.

Q: What has it been like to be a Terp for four years?
CB: It's been good and I'm sad it's going to end. It's something that I'm definitely proud of to call myself. It's the top program in the nation and it's an honor to be on this team.

Q: What is the most important thing you have learned?
CB: The thing that I've learned that I think is very important and I still don't believe I have is time management. And learning to always be yourself. Our campus is very diverse and you can kind of get lost but you keep being who you are. It's very important.

Q: What will you remember most about Maryland field hockey?
CB: My first and my last year. They'll stick out. Being the young one and not knowing what to expect, being part of a team that went to the finals. And being a part of what was on the field. That was just amazing to me.

Q: What were your impressions as a freshman?
CB: I was scared. I didn't know if I had the ability to play here. The seniors that year are well known. They were great - statistically and everything. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fit in, help out. They helped me out with that and that was great.

Q: What are your impressions now?
CB: Yeah. I think with every year with new people coming in, you always wonder how it's going to be. With the different backgrounds of hockey, it's just trying to bring it all together and I think we've done well every year.

Q: What do you think this team can accomplish?
CB: I think we have the potential to win it all. Right now, we're our biggest competitors. Once we get over that and stop looking at who we're playing against and just keep playing, we can win it.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish at the ACC Tournament?
CB: I hope to win it again. It would be wonderful to leave with two ACC rings. It would be awesome. I honestly believe we can win it. Unfortunately, we've had two [ACC] losses, but we've had two great wins. And I think the tournament is where we can prove who we are.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the NCAA Tournament?
CB: Basically the same thing. We've had some tough losses this year, but we've grown from every single one of those losses and we realize what we're capable of accomplishing. Rankings don't really matter. It's obviously a compliment to be ranked No. 1 like we were earlier this season, but that doesn't mean you're No. 1. If we keep playing like we know we can, we will be No. 1 at the end of the season.

Q: What are your thoughts about Senior Night?
CB: It's sad. It's very upsetting. I know the season is not over but it's the reality that it's almost over. The good thing is that my cousin is coming. He's never been in four years so he chooses the last one to go to!

Q: Have you thought about what life is going to be like after field hockey?
CB: I don't know if I ever will stop playing. I have been an athlete my entire life, so it's kind of hard to just end it once the season is over.

Q: Have you thought about what life is going to be like being at Maryland another year to finish your degree but not being on the team?
CB: I'm not looking forward to growing up! I think it will be fun to have a little more time to be able to do more things and be involved in different organizations. But field hockey has been a big part of my life. Hopefully, they'll still let me come back and play with them.

Q: Do you think playing field hockey at Maryland has prepared you for life?
CB: Yes. It's taught me a lot of discipline in my daily activities. I do kind of have some time management skills. You have to have priorities I have definitely learned that you can't be care free anymore. It's taught me to be open to new things and to new people.

Q: Your hair used to be very long and now it's now. How much have you cut off?
CB: About 13 inches.

Q: Why did you do it?
CB: I have a lot of people in my family with cancer. When my brother was sick with cancer, he passed away seven years ago, to him it wasn't a big deal losing his hair because he's a guy but you could tell people's reactions. Now that my mother has breast cancer, I it was something that was going to be hard for her to lose her hair. I was actually going to cut my hair and give it to her, but we couldn't do that. So she did end up getting a wig from somewhere else and I figured, why not make some little kid happy.

Q: How does that make you feel now that you've done it?
CB: I feel real good about myself. People keep saying, "wow, it's such a big thing to cut your hair," but for me, it's only hair. I don't have cancer. It could always be worse.

Q: How are you handling your mom's illness?
CB: It's been rough at times. She's in New York and I'm here. And I can't really do much for her, but not being there makes me feel kind of helpless. She's in such high spirits. There were a couple of games she couldn't make it to, but every time she's here, it makes me want to work so much harder at what I'm doing.

Q: How is your mom doing?
CB: She's doing good. She'll be here tomorrow (for Senior Night).