#1 Field Hockey Hosts Terrapin Invitational
9/8/2006 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 8, 2006
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Game Notes • Terrapin Invitational
Day 1: Sept. 9 • #1 Terps (4-0) vs. Temple (3-1), 11 a.m.
#12 American (3-2) vs. Northwestern (3-1), 1 p.m.
Day 2: Sept. 10 • #1 Terps vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m.
#12 American vs. Temple, 3 p.m.
** PARKING NOTE: Parking on Saturday, Sept. 9 prior to NOON is free. After noon, there is a $10 per car charge due to the Maryland football game. On Sunday, Sept. 10, parking is FREE.
10TH ANNUAL TERRAPIN INVITATIONAL: The top-ranked Terps host the 10th-annual Terrapin Invitational, drawing three squads who have had their share of success so far this season. #12 American, the Big Ten's Northwestern and regional opponent Temple each come in with winning records looking build on its momentum in this young season.
The Eagles have participated in Maryland's home tournament in eight of the nine seasons, while the Wildcats have participated twice, the last time in 2004. The Owls come to the Terrapin Invitational for the first time.
LAST TIME OUT: As is typical of the series, the Terps and then-No. 4 Old Dominion was an exciting one. The reigning champions got the best of the Lady Monarchs, 1-0, in the first of the home-and-home series. Paula Infante raced down the sideline on the counterattack, passed off to freshman Nicole Muracco who drew out the ODU goalkeeper from the cage. Muracco dished off to redshirt sophomore Kim Ziegler who was standing uncontested in front of the net and tapped it in for the only score of the game. It was the seventh time in the last 10 meetings the game has been decided by a goal.
A LOOK AT THE TERPS: The Terps already have seven different players who have scored goals this season, with senior Paula Infante leading the way with four tallies. She is also the team's points leader with 10. Both junior Janneke van Leeuwen and senior Berber Rischen combined for 10 of the team's 15 assists this season, each collecting five apiece.
In the cage, Kathryn Masson is following up an All-American season with another solid campaign. She has allowed just one goal in 265 minutes, has posted two shutouts and has helped the team post a third. She boasts a 0.34 goals against average to date.
IN THE RANKINGS: In the first regular-season poll of the season, the Terrapins held on to the No. 1 spot in the NFHCA Top 20 rankings.
The ACC has five teams in the top 10 in the nation after Boston College cracked the top 10 this week and is ranked No. 9. Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina remain in the top five, rating No. 2, 4 and 5, respectively.
All six teams are among the top 11, with Virginia catapulting from No. 19 in the preseason poll to No. 11 this week.
Maryland faces nine of the top 20 teams this season, including its five conference foes. It has already posted victories over No. 3 Old Dominion and No. 16 California. The Terps also battle No. 20 Michigan on Oct. 1 and then take on No. 12 American for bragging rights on Oct. 18.
Also on the slate are Delaware, Pacific, Northwestern and Princeton, who are all receiving votes.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN: In the young season, the Wildcats have already won nearly half the number of games they had won all last year. Northwestern is coming of a 7-11 campaign, going winless in the Big Ten. It suffered a 3-1 setback to start the season against Miami (Ohio), but bounced back to eek out three-straight one-goal victories, tallying at least three goals in each of those games.
Third-year head coach Kelly McCollum is fielding a veteran squad, returning 16 of last season's letterwinners, including eight starters. The Wildcats have had balanced scoring so far, with eight players scoring at least a goal and four accounting for a team-high two.
In the cage, Emily Kyle has been the primary netminder, playing every minute this season. She sports a 2.69 goals against average.
SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN: The Terps lead the all-time series, 8-4, against Northwestern and has not lost to the Wildcats since 1985. NU has become a regular on the Terps' schedule lately, as this weekend's meeting will be the fifth meeting in the last six years.
ABOUT TEMPLE: The Owls come into the weekend with a 3-1 record, falling only to then-No. 16 Michigan State, 2-1, in their home tournament. Temple has scored just seven goals in four games, but has allowed just five, as goalkeeper Erin Hanshue boasts a 1.15 goals against average.
Temple finished second in the Atlantic 10 last year, recording a 6-1 record and had an overall mark of 11-10. Second-year mentor Amanda Tanney returns 15 letterwinners from last season, but only four starters.
SERIES VS. TEMPLE: The series is 11-7-2 in the Terps' favor, but Maryland has not lost to Temple since 1994. The Terps won the last four meetings, but have not played the Owls since 1998.
ABOUT AMERICAN: American is coming off another successful season where they earned a top-five ranking. The Eagles come into the weekend ranke No. 12 in the first regular-season poll of the year and a 3-2 mark.
AU traveled to California to open the season and needed overtime in each of its three games out West, falling to California and Pacific. Before returning East, the Eagles needed overtime, once again, but came away with a 4-3 decision at Stanford. American has won its last two games, picking up victories over then-No. 16 Michigan State and Rutgers at the Temple Tournament last weekend.
SISTER ACT: The Infante sisters will converge upon the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex this weekend for the Terrapin Invitational. Maryland'ssenior All-American Paula Infante's two sisters, Camila and Denise, are both members of the American field hockey team. Parents Denise and Roberto will not have to pick sides... this time. The sisters will not square off this weekend but that highly-anticipated matchup will take place later in the season on Oct. 18.
The sisters also have another sister, Daniela, and a brother, Roberto.
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 one goal from tying former teammate Colleen Barbieri (2001-04) and Judy Dougherty at 51 (1977-80). Terrapin great Carla Tagliente (1977-00) holds the school record with the most career goals at 73.
A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: The Terrapins, who were among the top 15 in the nation in offense last year, are at it again this season. Maryland is averaging 4.0 goals per game, tallying 16 goals in all in its first four games. Of the 16 goals scored so far, nine have been scored off assists. The Terps have collected 15 assists in all this season.
COMING UP: Maryland remains at home, hosting regional foe Delaware on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m.
-TERP-
