The Terrapin softball team opens the 2005 season with a clear goal: To return to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That quest will be taken on by versatile upperclassmen and energetic newcomers, by an elite coach and by the closely knit group that makes up the entire program.

Maryland is coming off a 33-27 season and a fourth-place finish at the conference tournament. Last season saw numerous individual and team accolades, the program and head coach Gina LaMandre's 300th victory and success with a demanding schedule, but the 2005 season brings with it even more excitement and determination to find continued success.

IN THE PITCHER'S CIRCLE
The Terps' pitching rotation will again be a strong suit for LaMandre's squad. Senior Jessica Aditays will be expected to take charge after ending the 2004 season strong and continuing to work hard in fall workouts. Aditays has already made her mark in Maryland's record books, as she returns for her senior campaign fifth on Maryland's all-time wins list (29) and fourth in strikeouts (271). The versatile hurler already has a perfect game on her resume (May 1, 2003 vs. UMES) and set new career-highs last season with 139 strikeouts and 13 wins.

"Jessica is ready to see a lot of time on the mound this year," LaMandre says. "She had a great fall and we are expecting big things from her, including really taking charge when she's in the circle."

New to the program in 2005 is junior Crystal Crews, who comes to Maryland after playing for Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla. Crews is expected to make an immediate impact for the Terrapins' pitching and also possesses power at the plate.

She maintained a 0.88 ERA while pitching for Indian River in 2004 and was named the Southern Conference's Pitcher of the Year after striking out 153 batters in 127 innings. Crews was a double threat for Indian River, as she also put together a fantastic offensive season, hitting .411 with six home runs and 43 RBI.

"We brought Crystal in to be an impact player. She's a fantastic pitcher with a ton of experience at a very good community college," LaMandre says. "She's also a very good hitter."

Sophomore Elyse Lucas is also expected to see more time in the circle after a strong rookie year last season. The smart pitcher already has her first complete game victory and combined no-hitter under her belt, and will look to build on her 3-1 record and 43 strikeouts from a season ago.

"Elyse will see significantly more playing time this season," LaMandre says. "She looked extremely good in our fall workouts and we are expecting her to put out the same effort on the mound as well."

Also expected to see time in the rotation is newcomer Abbey Welch, a transfer from Longwood University. Welch is an extremely versatile player who could see time in the circle, as well as in the infield or outfield. "We are very pleased to have Abbey join the Maryland softball program and look for her to see significant time," LaMandre says.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Rachel Greyson and Nikki Smith are expected to share time behind the plate, as Greyson saw significant time at the position last season and Smith comes to Maryland with junior college experience.

Greyson helped bolster the Terp offense with 13 RBI and 24 hits in 2004 while maintaining a .994 fielding percentage. That fielding percentage was tops on the squad and Greyson will look to build on that solid season.

Smith joins the program from Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla. A teammate of fellow newcomer Crystal Crews, Smith batted .336 with 10 doubles and 24 RBI as a member of the 2004 All-Southern Conference team.

"Nikki brings a bat and a strong throwing arm behind the plate," LaMandre says. "Even though she and Crystal are newcomers to the program, they bring with them a lot of experience."

AROUND THE HORN
The Maryland infield is a combination of veteran leaders and a pair of sophomores that put together two of the best seasons in Maryland softball history. Senior leaders Crystal Rizzuto and Nneka Cardoza anchor the left side of the infield, as Rizzuto has been a two-year starter at third base and Cardoza settled in at shortstop in '04.

Rizzuto is a two-time ACC All-Tournament team selection and one of three Terps to start every game last season. Known for her solid defensive play, Rizzuto also led the team and ranked eighth in the ACC with her .329 batting average and tallied a team-high 14 multi-hit games.

"The left side of the field, defensively, is our experience. Crystal's done a great job of being a leader," LaMandre says.

At shortstop, Cardoza made the transition from second base last season and was a bright spot in the Terrapin lineup. "Nneka has done a great job of being our team leader this fall and she will continue in that role as the season begins," LaMandre says.

Cardoza's career batting average of .292 is among the program's elite, and she led the squad and was ranked sixth in the ACC with a .429 on-base percentage in '04. The versatile athlete stole a team-high 10 bases and put together 12 multi-hit games.

On the right side of the infield are two exciting sophomores who made their mark on the softball program in just their first seasons with the Terps. Lindsay Klein returns after starting every game at first base last year. She finished the year with a team-high tying six home runs and 36 RBI and has continued to hit the ball extremely well in fall workouts, according to LaMandre.

Keri Lounge, meanwhile, was an All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament selection in her first season at second base and was one of the team's top hitters. The sophomore had a rookie season in which she led the team and was among conference leaders in hits (57), doubles (15) and slugging percentage (.514) and tied for the team lead (with classmate Klein) in home runs and RBI.

IN THE OUTFIELD
The outfield positions will remain solid as all three starters return from a season ago. Crystal Tweedy was one of three Terps to start every game and will start in left field again. The senior has improved each year in the program and provides the Terps with a combination of speed (six stolen bases in 2004), solid defense and a strong offense.

Lauren Pollock, also a senior, will again start in right field after a successful junior campaign. She started 54 games, drove in 11 runs and posted nine multi-hit games in 2004, and returned from a late-season injury to have strong fall and winter workouts.

Natalie Grossman returns with experience in both left and center field and started 55 games last season. LaMandre calls her one of the top defensive outfielders on the squad, and she also contributed 21 hits to the Terps' offensive arsenal.

Freshman Jenny Belak, who has shown great speed and a strong arm, will vie for time in the outfield as well as sophomore Abbey Welch, who has shown good judgment and athleticism. Freshman Meghan Booth will also add depth to the outfield positions.

THE SCHEDULE
The Terrapins' 2005 schedule is highlighted by being selected to host the ACC Softball Tournament from May 12-15. The Terrapin Softball Complex, now in its third full season as the home of the Terps, will provide an outstanding facility for the conference tournament.

Nearly three months before hosting the conference championships, the Terps open their season at tournaments hosted by Alabama and Georgia. In its first two weekends of play, Maryland will face two teams ranked in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll in the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs.

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Terps will also take on Penn State and Missouri in addition to the host Crimson Tide, while they will face UNC Greensboro, Radford and Oakland and host Georgia in Athens, Ga.

The Terps have their first home doubleheader against Maryland-Eastern Shore on March 9 before heading to the Florida State Invitational, where they will play Georgia State, Southern Illinois, Florida A&M and Troy State.

The Maryland Invitational, played March 19-20 at the Terrapin Softball Complex, features in-state foe Mount St. Mary's, along with non-conference opponents Binghamton and Columbia.

The Terps spend spring break in southern Virginia playing Radford on March 24. From there, they face new ACC opponent Virginia Tech and get their first taste of the new three-game series format. The teams will play a doubleheader on Sat., March 26, then a final game on Sun., March 27.

The challenging ACC schedule continues with a homestand against NC State, which the Terps follow up by stepping out of league play to host Delaware State on April 6.

ACC series at Virginia and Florida State come next, followed by home matchups with North Carolina and Georgia Tech. Non-conference foes Towson, Delaware and George Mason are also on the schedule before the ACC Tournament begins on May 12.

"It's an exciting time for the ACC, which went to a three-game format," LaMandre says. "We'll face top 20 teams regularly throughout the season, and our home stretch from late April to early May will prepare us for hosting the conference tournament."

ANALYSIS
With what head coach Gina LaMandre calls some of the best senior leadership she's seen in her time at Maryland and the addition of energetic new personalities, Maryland looks to take the accomplishments of last season and continue to build a tradition of success.