No. 1 Field Hockey Opens ACC Slate
9/15/2006 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 15, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The reigning NCAA & ACC Champion Maryland field hockey team has a tough weekend ahead when it hosts two teams ranked in the top 15. The top-ranked Terps open conference action on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. against No. 8 Boston College, then closes out a six-game homestand on Sunday, Sept. 17 against No. 13 James Madison 2 p.m.
The Eagles will be the first ACC team to test the conference champions. BC faces an undefeated Terrapin squad that has won its first seven games of the season. Boston College is 5-1, improving on its ranking every week on the strength of two victories over ranked opponents.
Terrapin head coach Missy Meharg is fielding one of the best offenses and defenses in the nation both rankings in the top five. On attack, junior Janneke van Leeuwen's (Hilversum, Netherlands) seven assists and 15 points are tops, while senior Honda Award winner Paula Infante (Santiago, Chile) and freshman Nicole Muracco (Sewell, N.J.) have tallied a team-high five goals.
The defense is ranked third nationally, posting four shutouts in its seven games. The backfield has allowed just 0.73 goals per game on the strength of junior Kathryn Masson's (Richmond, British Columbia) 0.38 goals against average.
BC's Crystal Frates is leading the ACC with 2.50 points per game, scoring tallying a goal in each of her team's games. Goalkeeper Julia Berkowitz leads the conference with 5.50 saves per game, but is last with a 2.00 goals against average.
On Sunday, regional foe James Madison comes to College Park for the first time since 2004. Maryland leads the all-time series over the Dukes, 22-5-3, winning the last nine meetings.
All games are played at the state-of-the-art Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Admission and parking is free.
-TERPS-
