Sept. 4, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The top-ranked University of Maryland field hockey team earned three straight wins last week, thanks in large part, to the play of rookie forward Katie O'Donnell, who was selected the ACC's Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.

O'Donnell, a freshman from Blue Bell, Pa., amassed five goals and three assists for the Terps, who went 3-0 last week. One of the five tallies included the game-winning shot to topple 12th-ranked Michigan in overtime on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Earlier in the week, O'Donnell scored two goals and dished an assist in each of Maryland's wins over Northwestern, 6-0, and No. 6 Old Dominion, 4-1.

O'Donnell has now scored at least one goal in each of the Terps' first four games, accumulating seven goals, five assists and 19 points, leading the ACC in each of those categories.

Maryland is the top-ranked team in the nation, according to the first regular-season poll of the season, released by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. The Terps, who are 4-0 on the season, were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll.

All six ACC teams are ranked in the top 20. North Carolina is No. 2 and is also undefeated (4-0), followed by fifth-ranked Wake Forest (1-2), No. 8 Duke (2-2), No. 13 Boston College (3-1) and No. 14 Virginia (1-2).

The yet unbeaten Terps will host the annual Terrapin Invitational Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8 and 9 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park. The field includes two ranked opponents as Maryland will face Ohio State at 11 a.m. on Sept. 8, followed by a face off between local-foe American and Northeastern. AU starts things off on Sunday against the Buckeyes, with the Terps closing the tournament against Northeastern at 3 p.m.