Aug. 16, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland field hockey team travels to Virginia Beach, Va., this afternoon to take on the U.S. National Team in an exhibition match at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Training Center.

The Terps reported for preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 11 and took to the field on Friday, Aug 12. Since then, the team participated in its annual 5k at midnight on Aug. 12, and two-a-days on the turf.

"We're really pleased with the way the women came back from the summer," said head coach Missy Meharg, who is entering her 18th season at the Maryland helm. "They're very fit and performed well on their fitness tests, much better than where we left off in the spring. Their work rate has been great with a lot of players playing at a very high level."

After four days of competing against each other, the team will have the opportunity to play some outside competition and there is no better test than playing the best team in the nation, the U.S. National Team.

"We're real fortunate to have the opportunity to open our competition against the U.S. National Team tonight," said Meharg. "Playing them will give us a marker and a gauge of where we are, and will point us in the right direction."

The Terps will be competing against some familiar faces. Sara Silvetti and Dina Rizzo are both current members of the Red, White and Blue and former members of the Maryland field hockey team. Silvetti was an All-American last season, while Rizzo, a 2001 All-American, was a volunteer assistant on last year's Terrapin team.

The team will be especially familiar for senior All-American Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.). Powley spent the summer playing with the U.S. National Team and was the starting center midfielder.

Maryland will return to preseason camp tomorrow and will continue with preseason workouts until Aug. 26. The Terps open the season at Northwestern on Friday, Aug. 27.

-TERPS-