Oct. 11, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The second-ranked Maryland field hockey team prepares to take on a couple of Colonial Athletic Association teams this weekend. The Terps host No. 10 Old Dominion in the second game of the regular-season series on Friday, Oct. 12, then travels to Delaware on Sunday, Oct. 14. Friday's game can be heard on Maryland's WMUC Sports. Following the ODU-Terrapin matchup, the U.S. Field Hockey National Team hosts Japan in the fourth game of a five-game series.
Boasting a school-record 14-0 record, the Terps welcome the perennial power Lady Monarchs, who have won their last seven games after starting the season at 1-5. Over the past nine years, the teams have met twice during the regular season. Maryland won the first matchup, 4-1, in late August this season.
No player on the ODU roster has scored more than six times, but nine have contributed goals so far in its 13 games. Kathleen Shea is the team's goals leader with six, including two game-winning goals, but Titia Beek's eight assists and four goals make her the team's points leader with 30. In the cage, Kelly Driscoll has played all but 35 minutes, sporting a 1.52 goals against average. Old Dominion is 8-5 on the year.
Delaware is 9-5 but is on a three-game losing skid with all three games decided by a goal, including a 1-0 setback to ODU. The Blue Hens are off until they host the Terps on Sunday, after dropping a 3-2 game to Pennsylvania on Oct. 10. Casey Howard paces the attack with 10 goals, while goalkeeper Nikki Rhoades has a 1.40 goals against average over the team's 14 games.
The Terps trail the in the series against Old Dominion (22-18-1), but have won the four meetings. Maryland also leads Delaware, 20-10-2, dating back to 1974.
Maryland has been off since facing back-to-back top-15 opponents last weekend, defeating No. 11 Duke, 4-2 on the road, then coming home to top No. 13 Delaware, 3-1.
This week, freshman Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.) was named the ACC's Player of the Week for the third time and also swept National Player and Rookie of the Week honors by www.womensfieldhockey.com. She leads the team and the ACC with 14 goals, 14 assists and 42 points. She also ranks in the top two in the nation in goals and assists per game (1.00) and points per game (3.00).
2006 All-Americans Nicole Muracco (Sewell, N.J.) and Susie Rowe (London, England) are also having outstanding offensive seasons. Both have tallied double-digit goals, with Muracco knocking in 12 and Rowe tallying 10. On the other end of the field in the cage, senior Kathryn Masson (Richmond, British Columbia), also an All-American last season, is having another great performance in the net. She is second in the nation with a 0.81 goals against average and is ranked seventh with an 81.1 save percentage.
Admission to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is free. For more information on the U.S. team's series vs. Japan, visit www.usfieldhockey.com.
-TERPS-
