Oct. 30, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
University of Maryland softball head coach Laura Watten released the schedule for the 2006-07 season today. The Terrapins will face eight opponents which finished in the USA Today / NFPC Top 25 poll including 2006 Women's College World Series participants UCLA and Texas. 2005 NCAA champion Michigan and California also highlight the schedule.
Maryland encounters a tough ACC slate which sent five teams to the NCAA tournament including No. 19 Florida State and No. 24 NC State. Local foes Georgetown, Delaware State and University of Maryland, Baltimore County are also on the schedule.
"We are extremely excited about our schedule for the upcoming spring softball season," said Watten. "We've have had great support from our administration, which has enabled us to build a solid and competitive schedule. We'll be facing eight teams that finished in the top 25 last season, including three teams who competed in the College World Series."
Maryland will open the 2006 spring season with five tournaments starting with the FAU-Dunkin' Donuts Classic (Feb. 16-17), hosted by Florida Atlantic University. The Terps then head west for the highly-competitive Palm Springs Classic (Feb. 23-25) and will also participate in University of South Florida's Louisville Slugger Tournament (Mar. 2-3).
The Terps will host two spring tournaments at the Terrapin Softball Complex starting with the Maryland Invitational (Mar. 9-10) and the Terrapin Spring Break Invitational (Mar. 16-18).
"Our non-conference schedule will give Maryland softball great national exposure, as well as provide experience for the team in preparation for an ACC schedule that continues to get stronger every year," said Watten.
A three-game series with the Virginia Cavaliers (Mar. 24-25) opens the ACC portion of the 2006-07 schedule, followed by a matchup against Florida State (Mar. 31-Apr. 1) on JoAnn Graf Field in Tallahassee, Fla. The Tar Heels come to the Terrapin Softball Complex for the ACC home-opener (Apr. 7-8), followed by a matchup with Georgia Tech (Apr. 14-15), also in College Park. The team travels to Blacksburg, Va. to face the Hokies (Apr. 21-22), followed by a contest with the 2005 conference champion, NC State, (Apr. 28-29) in College Park. The Terps conclude ACC play at home against Boston College (May 5-6).
The annual ACC Tournament will take place May 10-13 in Tallahassee on the campus of Florida State.
Last season, the Maryland softball team finished with a 32-27 record. Infielders Lindsay Klein and Lindsey Ubrun were named to the 2006 ACC second team.
The Terps return 10 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2005-06 squad, and welcomes eight new players to the roster including 2004 All-American shortstop Amber Jackson.
