COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Reigning national champion Maryland field hockey begins its quest for its fifth NCAA title this weekend when it hosts the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11 and 12. Tickets are still available for purchase at www.umterps.com or on gameday at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Ranked second in the nation, Maryland (19-2) opens its national championship pursuit with 17th-ranked Richmond (16-4) for a rematch of last year's first-round clash. The Terrapins won that meeting, 4-0, en route to capturing the program's fourth NCAA cown. The game is slated for 11 a.m. on Saturday.

In the second game of the day, sixth-ranked Penn State (15-5) and eighth-ranked North Carolina (13-8) square off at 2 p.m. The Nittany Lions lost in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament. UNC upset fourth-ranked Duke in the ACC Tournament before losing in the semifinals.

On Sunday, the winners play for the right to advance to the national semifinals in Winston-Salem, N.C. The game is set for a 2 p.m. start.

The Terps are coming off a 1-0 setback to Wake Forest in the championship game of the ACC Tournament. Head coach Missy Meharg has led the Terrapins to 17 of the program's 19 postseason appearances, guiding Maryland to three NCAA titles. The Terps have won four national crowns in the history of the program, but never in back-to-back seasons. Maryland is led by five All-ACC honorees, including Defensive Player of the Year Paula Infante and ACC Freshman of the Year Nicole Muracco.

Due to the Maryland-Miami football game which is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start, there will be a $10 parking charge on Saturday. Lot 4i, which is adjacent to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, will be reserved for field hockey fans. Once the parking lot is full, cars will be directed to the Terrapin Trail Garage.

For more information, log onto the Tournament Central page on www.umterps.com.

NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
Saturday, Nov. 11
11 a.m. • #2 seed Maryland (19-2) vs. Richmond (17-4)
2 p.m. • Penn State (15-5) vs. North Carolina (13-8)

Sunday, Nov. 12
2 p.m. • Second Round game

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