2007 OUTLOOK
Coming off national championship runs in 2005 and 2006, Maryland would seem to have a lot of expectations placed on it for a "three-peat," a feat which has occurred just four times in the history of the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins, however, learned to deal with the expectations and pressured placed on them a year ago. With those lessons learned and add a talented group of newcomers, Maryland will be hungry and formidable, led by a veteran core, focusing on its own goals.

"As always, Maryland hockey thrives to stay in the moment," said six-time NFHCA National Coach of the Year Missy Meharg. "The theme is always to show our new Terps about the culture of Maryland hockey, which is to continue to outwork our teammates and taking the group further by our own example and being our own leaders."

The 2007 team will be different from recent seasons. With an experienced nucleus returning on the forward line and the addition of talented and skilled forwards, Meharg and the coaching staff are looking at displaying a high-powered attack, reminiscent of the days when the Terps had excellent finishers in Jackie Ciconte, a two-time All-American, and Tiffany Marsh, a three-time regional All-American.

"We are really looking to play an exciting style of hockey. It has been a while since we have had a fundamentally-sound scoring unit. We are fortunate to have some season veterans return and also the addition of new players, which allows for us to have a really well-rounded team attack."

That is not to say the defense will be sub par. The backfield will miss the talents of Honda Award winner Paula Infante and All-American Kristina Edmonds, but returning are Susie Rowe and Kathryn Masson, both All-Americans, as well. And while Rowe and Masson will be placed in new roles as the back-line leaders, both are ready to become the backbone of the defense and lead a young group of Terps.

Meharg's incoming crop of newcomers is, collectively, one of the most talented classes in recent memory. They have proven to be successful by winning championships and competing at high levels. How quickly they can integrate their talents with an established core of veterans will be a key component to the success of the Terrapins.

ATTACK
The forward line is Meharg's most experienced group, and what this year's freshmen class can add to the unit, will make for a high-octane attack, making it exciting for fans who remember the days when Maryland was among the high-scoring teams in the nation.

Among the returnees is the Terps' leading scorer from last year, sophomore Nicole Muracco. In just her first season, Muracco took home plenty of hardware at the end of the season, garnering ACC Rookie of the Year, All-American and All-ACC honors based, in large part, to her ability to score goals - a team-high 15. There are plenty of expectations for her, but Muracco's smart and confident play should make for a successful sophomore campaign.

Junior Sarah Scholl continues to be a quiet force for the Terps. Regularly etched into the starting lineup since arriving two years ago, she is ready to have a breakout season, with the seeds planted in a tremendous spring campaign.

Senior Kim Ziegler looks to follow up a career season where she started double-digit games and had career offensive numbers. Sophomore Alexis Pappas played in every game and found herself in the starting lineup 15 times. She has also made big strides during offseason training and could find herself on the midfield unit, where she has also taken to the passing game.

A junior, Danielle Keeley has made improvements in each of her first two seasons in a Maryland uniform, especially with her versatility. She is another key piece of the forward unit, also seeing time in the midfield.

Without a doubt, incoming freshman Meghan Dean and Katie O'Donnell will make an impact on the attacking unit. Both are very talented and have played in international competitions, earning spots on different U.S. National Teams in their careers. Winning a high school state title as a senior, Dean is an explosive forward and will be an exciting player to watch.

O'Donnell brings tremendous credentials with her. The youngest American athlete to earn an international cap at the age of 16, she has been a member of the U.S. Senior National Team for a few years. She not only likes to score, but is a complete player with the ability to create scoring chances for her teammates, as well.

Not to be overshadowed, also joining the Terps this season is freshman Mary Reilly, who is creative on the front line and will also bring an element of excitement to the attacking unit.

MIDFIELD
The midfield unit is fairly young, with senior co-captain Janneke van Leeuwen bringing the most experience as a three-year starter and a two-time all-region selection. Meharg will look to her to be the leader of this group. A cog on the penalty corner unit and one of the top-10 assist makers in school history, van Leeuwen is recovering from an injury but is expected to make a full return to the playing field. Joining van Leeuwen in the transition are junior Danielle Keeley and sophomores Brianna Davies, Kristina Foster, Alexis Pappas and fellow Dutch Ameliet Rischen. Keeley has gained experience playing in the midfield and, as the only other upperclassman in the unit, she will be looked to for her leadership.

Rischen, not to be confused with older sister Berber, who was also on the team last season but played out her eligibility, played in every game last season in the midfield and will be looked to her leadership because of her extensive playing experience at the position last year.

Davies and Pappas were impact players on the defense and attack, respectively, last season. Both have been able to adapt new positions in the spring and have really impressed the coaching staff.

Foster played in nearly every game last season and is a hard worker in the midfield. She is very comfortable and does a good job of helping to develop the attack in transition.

Newcomers Meghan Dean and Emily Ellenberger are also talented midfielders who will boost the midfield line. Dean's receiving skills are some of the best and her experience playing with the U.S. Junior National Team will make her an impact player.

Though recovering from a knee injury, Ellenberger was one of the top high school players in the region last year, also leading her team to a state title as a senior.

BACKFIELD
Maryland's calling card the last few years has been its defense, as eight of its last 14 All-Americans have come out of the backfield. With the likes of Paula Infante and Kristina Edmonds anchoring the deep defense, the Terps led the nation in team goals against average in 2006 (0.70) and were second in the nation in 2005 (1.01). Not to mention, the defense tied the school record with 12 shutouts last season and both its title games have come by a score of 1-0.

While the losses of Edmonds and Infante are great, the two combining for five All-American citations, Maryland does still return one All-American from the unit in junior Susie Rowe. In her first two seasons, Rowe has proven to be a big-time player, already garnering major awards, including 2005 ACC Tournament MVP nods and All-ACC recognitionlast season. However, Rowe will take on a new role as the team's field general, directing the rest of the young Terps in the backfield.

"Without Paula and Kristina, Susie will have the new challenge of stepping up and becoming the field general of the defense. She has tremendous skill and experience, both as a starter for us and playing with the English U-21 team. She will need to draw on that and guide the rest of the defense to become a cohesive unit. I think Susie is up for the challenge."

Also in the back are sophomore Brianna Davies, redshirt freshman Alicia Morawski, junior Ellen Ott and newcomer, freshman Amanda Himmelheber. Davies was the only freshman to start every game last season. Her speed and tenacious defending helped the Terps post a school-record tying 12 shutouts and earned her a spot on the all-region team. Her athleticism could see her make a move to the midfield or any other position on the field.

Ott has gained experience in her two seasons in College Park. She is tough and physical, but plays with plenty of skill.

Morawski will make her first-collegiate appearance in 2007. A standout ice hockey player from Michigan, she spent last year adjusting to the field game and has a firm grasp on the team's defensive concepts.

An accomplished player at the prep level, Himmelheber comes from a winning background, helping her high school squad win back-to-back state titles.

GOALKEEPERS
The goalkeeping core is solid, once again, as Meharg will turn to two-time All-American and senior co-captain Kathryn Masson to head up the unit. Masson has become one of the top goaltenders in the nation, leading the country in goals against average in each of the last two seasons.

Also looking to Masson's expertise in case will be redshirt-sophomore Alicia Grater and incoming freshman Melissa Vassolatti. With two seasons playing with Masson, Grater has certainly made the most of it, also gaining game experience last season. Vassolatti will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from one of the best netminders in the history of the program and under the guidance of associate head coach Marybeth Freeman.

SCHEDULE
Maryland's staple is a tough schedule, featuring 10 teams ranked in the final 2006 NFHCA Coaches Poll. The ACC slate is challenging enough, as all six teams were ranked in the top 10. To give the Terps another challenge, the schedule includes six league champions overall and nine of the 16 NCAA Tournament teams.

The Terps open the season with a tough three-game road stretch, while also facing three Big Ten teams in the first five games.

Maryland travels to the Midwest to face Central Michigan for its first opponent of the year on Aug. 26, then takes on Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., the following day. The Terps wrap up the road swing at Old Dominion for the first of two regular-season meetings against the Lady Monarchs. The clash has been one of the highlights of the schedule with the home-and-home series dating back to 1999.

"The regular-season series with Old Dominion always brings a tremendous competition level and is a great marker for us," said Meharg. "We learn so much about where we are and what we need to strive to do to be in a position to play our best in November."

The fourth game of the season is a clash with Michigan on Sept. 2 when the Wolverines visit College Park, then Big Ten Champion Ohio State opens the annual Terrapin Invitational on Sept. 8.

The Terrapin Invitational always brings teams from all over the country. The two-day event from Sept. 8-9 welcomes Northeastern and American, to join the Buckeyes and the Terps.

ACC play opens with Maryland going to Boston College on Sept. 15. The match brings an added bonus. The Terps can familiarize themselves with the field, site of the 2007 ACC Tournament.

A game of local interest will see the Terps and American battle for bragging rights on Sept. 19. It will be just their second trip to Washington, D.C., in the history of the series.

The Terps will be right in the thick of the schedule when they host Wake Forest on Sept. 22 in a rematch of the 2006 NCAA championship game. The Terps claimed the title over the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, N.C., 1-0.

Ivy League champion Princeton (Sept. 26), ACC-foe Virginia, who cracked the top 10 in the rankings last year, and the Atlantic 10's Temple (Sept. 30) all get their shot at the reigning national champions. But Maryland will have the luxury of home-field advantage during that four-game home stretch.

Back on the road, the Terps travel to Duke on Oct. 6, who has also made four-straight NCAA semifinal appearances. Maryland claimed its 2005 title over the Blue Devils, 1-0.

Returning home, Boston University appears on the schedule for the first time since 2004, with the meeting taking place on Oct. 7.

Its series vs. Old Dominion takes center stage at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, once again, on Oct. 12. In 2006, both games last year were decided by a 1-0 margin.

Down the final stretch, the Terps make trips to regional foe Delaware on Oct. 14, before heading south to close out the ACC slate on Oct. 20 vs. UNC.

A new opponent has appeared on the schedule for the final game of the season. The Big East's Villanova visits the Terrapins for the first-ever meeting between the teams on Oct. 26. The game will also mark the annual Senior Night, where the Terrapin seniors will be recognized.

The ACC Tournament heads north of the Mason-Dixon line for the first time ever. BC hosts the championship, Nov. 1-4. The title game will, once again, be televised on the ACC's Regional Sports Network (Comcast SportsNet, Fox Sports South, Sun Sports and NESN).

The NCAA Tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 10 and 11 on campus sites. The winners of the first and second rounds will be rewarded with a trip to the national semifinals. It will be especially rewarding for the Terrapins who host the championship rounds at their very own Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. The event is in the state of Maryland for the first time in the history of the tournament and the Terrapins would like to take advantage of the home crowd.

The NCAA semifinals is slated for Nov. 16 and the national champion will be crowned on Nov. 18 on national television on CSTV. More information on the event can be found by logging onto www.umterps.com.