Feb. 25, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg has received three commitments from top high school student-athletes. Cornelia Duffin, Michelle Lane and Brigitte Strother have each signed National Letters of Intent to play in College Park beginning the 2008 fall campaign.
Cornelia Duffin (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) hails from Moorestown, N.J. During her prep career at Moorestown High School, she scored a Burlington County-record 60 goals, including 16 in 2007. She led the Quakers to the program's 16th-consecutive Group 3 state title and was named to the Newark Star Ledger's All-Group 3 squad for the second-straight year. She was also selected to the Philadelphia Inquirer's first team South Jersey All-Star team. In 2006, Duffin was an All-South Jersey pick and an all-state selection by the Star Ledger. Inducted into the Honor and Service Society, she is the daughter of Ada Steinmetz-Duffin and Joseph Duffin.
"At 5-10, Cornelia has natural power and strong hands for creating attack and goal-scoring opportunities," said Meharg. "We are very excited about Cornelia becoming a part of our attacking unit and, with 10 siblings, we know she understands teamwork."
Michelle Lane (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) from Stafford, Va., earned a place on the first team Commonwealth All-District squad, after leading Colonial Forge High School to a No. 2 seed in the district tournament as a senior. A midfield/defender, she was a first team all-district selection as a junior, as well, also earning first team all-region nods that season. A two-time second team all-area pick the last two years at both midfield and defense, she was the team's Most Valuable Player in 2007, also receiving the Commonwealth District All-Academic Academic Award. Lane is the daughter of Debbie and Len and has three siblings.
"Michelle has natural speed and timing for intercepting and will be a defensive threat," said Meharg. "As the daughter of alumni, we are honored Michelle chose to be a Terp and we are happy to keep her home."
A local product from Annapolis, Md., Brigitte Strother (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) graduates from Broadneck High School as the Bruins' all-time leading goal-scorer, leading the team to capture the county crown as a senior. In 2007, she was selected the Annapolis Capital's Player of the Year and was a first-team all-state honoree. As a senior, she was also a first team all-metro pick by the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Examiner, garnering all-county nods for the second-straight year by the Capital, Post and Sun. The daughter of Tommy and Renee Strother, Michelle was a four-year Scholar Athlete and was on the Principal's Honor Roll.
"Brigitte is a feisty and dynamic goal-scoring forward and is one of the most decorated Maryland attackers out of Broadneck High School," said Meharg. "We are so pleased that Brigitte chose to be a Terp. She is one of the state's premier student-athletes and we're happy she chose to stay home."
Maryland completed another successful campaign in 2007, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th-consecutive season and was ranked third in the nation in the final STX/NFHCA Coaches poll. The Terps were 18-3 overall, winning at least 17 games in each of the last nine seasons.
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