Game 13
Oct. 14, 2006
#1 Terps (12-0, 3-0) vs. #5 Duke (8-3, 1-2), 1 p.m.
Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, College Park, Md.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME REMATCH: The top-ranked and reigning national champion field hockey team hosts fifth-ranked Duke on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils will definitely be seeing red this weekend, as they will be looking to knock off the champs who defeated them in the NCAA finals last year.

Maryland also enters the game as the last undefeated team remaining in the nation, boasting its best-ever start at 12-0.

RED OUT THE BLUE DEVILS: Fans are asked to wear red for the game against Duke on Oct. 7, to "Red Out the Blue Devils." All fans wearing red can purchase a hot dog for $1. The first 250 fans will also receive a free "Fear the Turtle" wristband and the firt 500 will get a free pom pom. All field hockey games are played at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex and admission is free. For more information on promotions, visit www.umterps.com.

Missy Meharg SHOW: Maryland fans can get weekly updates of the field hockey team on the new "Missy Meharg Show" airing on the campus' WMUC Sports every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.. If you can't listen on the radio, go to the internet at www.wmucsports.com.

LAST TIME OUT: Maryland opened last weekend with a commanding 5-1 victory at Virginia to remain undefeated in league play and picking up its third ACC victory of the season. After the game was tied, 1-1, early in the first half, the Terps scored four unanswered tallies to run away with the victory. Freshman Nicole Muracco scored a career-high two goals, including the game winner.

Muracco came to the rescue again, notching the game-winning overtime goal against No. 20 Michigan. Sarah Scholl scored on an assist from Muracco in the first half, but Maryland was unable to penetrate the ball passed the goalie for the rest of regulation. The Wolverines evened the score in the second half to force an overtime. Just three minutes into the extra period, however, Muracco gave the Terrapins the win.

A LOOK AT THE TERPS: Helping the team to post five shutouts and a 0.83 goals against average which ranks second in the nation, goalkeeper Kathryn Masson leads the country with a 0.71 GAA. Her 82.2 save percentage is ranked third.

Maryland has boasted one of the top-five offenses in the nation. Led by Nicole Muracco's 11 goals on the season, the Terps' 3.91 scoring average is fifth-best in the country, while their +3.07 scoring margin is third.

Maryland is also tied for 10th nationally in assists, with a 2.67 assists per game average. Senior Berber Rischen leads the team with nine.

ABOUT DUKE: Sitting at 8-3 heading into the weekend, Duke's losses have come only to ranked opponents - #2 Wake Forest (3-0), #3 Old Dominion (4-3 2OT) and #7 Boston College (2-1 2OT). Four of its games have been decided in overtime, including two double-overtime setbacks. The Blue Devils are on the road for the first time since Sept. 9.

Ranked fifth in the polls, the Blue Devils' attack is led by Marian Dickinson's 13 goals. She also has a team-high six assists and 32 points. Eight players have contributed goals to the 11th-ranked offense in the country.

Goalkeeper Caitlin Williams is 18th in the nation with a 1.33 goals against average.

Duke leads the country in penalty corners, drawing 11.09 corners per game.

SERIES VS. DUKE: Maryland leads the all-time series against Duke, 22-5-3. The Terps have won the last five meetings against the Blue Devils, including wins in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament and the championship game of the NCAA Tournament in 2005.

The Blue Devils won both meetings of the 2003 season, knocking Maryland out of the NCAA semifinals in Amherst, Mass.

STREAKING TERPS: The last undefeated team in the nation, the Terrapins have opened the season on a school-best 12-game winning streak and is on a 21-game win streak dating back to last season's victory over Delaware on Oct. 16. Maryland looks to be threatening the school record of 29-consecutive wins, spanning Sept. 10, 1999-Sept. 17, 2000.

GREAT START: Maryland's 12-0 start to the season is the best in school history. The Terps bested the previous start of 11-0 in 1997.

MURACCO TWICE NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman Nicole Muracco is making herself known in the ACC. Twice, already, she has been named ACC Player of the Week, earning the honor the last two weeks in a row. A Sewell, N.J., native, she first received the weekly honor on Sept. 25 after scoring a goal against James Madison, then tallying the game-winning goal against Wake Forest. She then was tabbed player of the week after tallying a career high-tying two goals at Virginia, then had the game winner plus an assist against Michigan.

MURACCO ON A ROLL: Freshman Nicole Muracco is on a roll this season. Starting in 10 games on the season, she has scored at least a goal in the Terps' last eight games, while picking up at least a point in every game but the season opener. Muracco is approaching the school record of 11 consecutive games with a goal, a feat Nadine Bennett accomplished in 1997.

MASSON CLAMS UP: For the second-consecutive season, junior All-American goalkeeper is proving herself to be one of the top netminders in the nation. Last year she led the country with a 0.91 goals against average. This season, she is sporting a carer-best 0.71 GAA which also leads the nation.

Along with fellow goalkeepers Christina Restivo and Alicia Grater, the Terrapins boast a 0.83 GAA with five shutouts.

BALANCED ATTACK: Up until their victory at Virginia, the Terrapins won seven-straight games without a multiple-goal scorer, despite the team scoring multiple goals in six of those contests. Maryland boasts a balanced attack with 11 different players having scored at least once and 10 who have multiple goals to their credit. The fifth-best offense in the nation, only freshman Nicole Muracco has reached double-digits in goals.

Maryland's scoring is actually up from a season ago. The Terps scored 39 goals through the first 12 games of the season. This year, they have tallied goals 47 times.

MOVING UP: With her goal in the win at California, senior Paula Infante became just the 10th player in school history to tally 50 career goals. Infante is currently tied with Lynsey McVicker (1995-97) with 52. Terrapin great Carla Tagliente (1977-00) holds the school record with the most career goals at 73.

Infante also recently entered the top 10 among the program's top points scorers. She currently ranked ninth all-time with 125 points.

COMING UP: Maryland hits the road again for a day trip to Princeton on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. The game will also be televised on College Sports Television (CSTV). Check cable and satellite listings for channel.