Jan. 11, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second-consecutive year, Maryland field hockey coach Missy Meharg was named National Coach of the Year by National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), which was announced at the annual coaches conference in Baltimore. This is her sixth time receiving the award.

"This is truly a staff award. [Assistant coaches] Marybeth Freeman and Tjerk van Herwaarden are potentially the most dedicated, hard working and technically knowledgeable coaches in the NCAA," said Meharg. "It's an honor to work next to them, not to mention what a tribute this is to the amazing group of female athletes we get to work with every day."

The award is voted on by collegiate field hockey coaches across the country. Last year, Meharg was the first coach ever to receive the award five times.

This past season, Meharg led the Terps to the program's fifth national title and fourth in her 19 years as at the Maryland helm. The Terps finished the year 23-2 after defeating Wake Forest, 1-0, for the title in November.

Meharg and her Terps also earned 20 wins, the sixth time in team history and all coming under Meharg. She led the team to the NCAA semifinals for the seventh time in eight years and the fourth-straight year, a first for the program.

At season's end, five Terps earned All-American citations, including senior Paula Infante who became the first field hockey Terrapin to garner first team honors four-straight year. She mentored Infante to her second-straight ACC Defensive Player of the Year nod and second-straight Honda Award distinction, presented to the nation's top field hockey player.

-TERPS-