Oct. 6, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

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With the ACC Tournament less than a month away, the second-ranked Maryland field hockey team travels to third-ranked Duke for a pivotal ACC showdown on Saturday, Oct. 8. Both teams are tied for second in the ACC with a 2-1 league record.

The showdown also pits a top-five offense up against a top-five defense. The Blue Devils (9-2, 2-1 ACC) sport the fifth-best offense in the nation, averaging 3.79 goals a game. But Duke will have to go up against Maryland's (12-1, 2-1 ACC) fourth-ranked defense which has limited opponents to under a goal and less that four shot attempts per game.

The Terps are led by senior Tiffany Marsh (Marathon, N.Y.), who is putting together the best season of her career. She leads the team with a career-high 11 assists, which is also tied for the most in the nation, and 31 points. Her 10 goals is second to senior Jackie Ciconte's (Wilmington, Del.) 11 tallies, both of which are ranked among the top 10 in the nation.

Maryland's defense is anchored by two of the top goalkeepers in the nation. Sophomore Kathryn Masson (Richmond, British Columbia) has the best goals against average in the nation at 0.45. Fellow goalie, junior Christina Restivo (Parkton, Md.) has a 1.27 GAA which ranks in the top 15 in the NCAA.

Duke's attack is led by Nicole Dudek's and Katie Grant's nine goals. Five Blue Devils have scored at least five goals this season. Dudek also leads the team with six assists and 24 points.

Maryland leads the all-time series, 20-5-3. The Terps swept both meetings last season, winning the regular-season meeting, then claiming a win in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

-TERPS-