Sept. 3, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland field hockey program will host a reunion of the 1999 national championship team Sunday before and during the current team's game against Michigan. The Maryland hockey alums will be coming from as far as Germany and Australia to celebrate their achievements.

The 1999 Terps claimed the school's third national field hockey title and second under head coach Missy Meharg. Maryland went 24-1 on the year and was undefeated in ACC play (4-0). The Terrapins also earned the third ACC field hockey crown in school history.

"The 1999 team was an amazing group of women," Meharg said. "They defined how to play hard in every sense of the word and found winning together sheer pleasure. They are doctors, mothers, salon artists, coaches and Olympians. This team set the bar for what MARYLAND hockey is all about today. Smart hockey, no regrets, hard work and at all costs......have fun and laugh. I am honored to have coach them."

The 1999 Terrapin squad featured two Olympians in Keli Smith and Dina Rizzo. Many of the members of the team are now coaches. Carla Tagliente is now associate head coach at Northwestern and Ange Bradley is head coach at Syracuse. Steve Simpson, who helped coach the championship squad, now coaches at University of New Hampshire.

Most of the 1999 Terrapins will come into town over the weekend. They will enjoy a team dinner Saturday night. On Sunday, they will face off in a scrimmage at 11:30 a.m., which will be followed by a team lunch. The current Terps, who are ranked No. 1, will take the field against Michigan at 1 p.m. The 1999 team will be honored at halftime.

In November 1999, Maryland began its brilliant road to the top at home in College Park against Lafayette with a 6-0 win. In the quarterfinals, once again in College Park, the Terps beat Old Dominion 3-2 in double overtime.

This win sent the Terrapins to Boston for the Final Four and set up a semifinal match against Iowa. The Iowa game was once again a thriller, as Maryland won 2-1 in double overtime.

On Nov. 21, the Maryland took the field against Michigan. Maryland's Smith scored with 10:06 remaining in the first half to put the Terrapins on the board. Freshman Carissa Messimer tipped in a shot as time expired in the half. It would be the goal that handed the Terps the NCAA crown. Maryland goalkeeper Ashley Hohnstine preserved the win in the game's final seconds with a save.

The Terrapins that will be attending this weekend are listed below, along with their numbers.

1. Ashley Combs (Hohnstine)
2. Lindsay Gorewitz
3. Autumn Kelly (Welsh)
5. Emily Ward
6. Rachel Hiskins
7. Zoe Ehrlich
8. Caroline Walter
9. Kristy Palchinsky
10. Molly Periandi (Kauffman)
12. Kateri Simon
13. Keli Smith
16. Megan Walter (Kelly)
18. Dawn Christensen
20. Angie Klingerman
22. Dina Rizzo
23. Carli Swift (Harris)