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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 2010 national champion Maryland field hockey team released its 2011 schedule Monday. The Terrapins will play host to Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia and Wake Forest and will play host to the ACC Tournament in November.

"Our 2011 schedule is strong, regionally diverse and exciting. Maryland prides itself on playing the toughest schedule possible," head coach Missy Meharg said. "Competing in the ACC coupled with competing against the 2010 champions of the CAA, Atlantic 10 and Patriot League secures this goal for our players."

The Terps, who went 23-1 in 2010, also announced their captains for the upcoming year in senior Jemma Buckley and junior Megan Frazer. Both were named NFHCA All-Americans in 2010 and were also named to the All-ACC Team. Buckley ended the 2010 season third in the ACC in goals with 22, and Frazer scored the game-winning goal in the national championship game in double overtime.

"Our captains are selected by the team. They have made excellent choices in Megan and Jemma," Meharg said. "Both of these women are caring while sincerely enjoying outworking their teammates. For the coaches, this makes our training sessions more productive and fun. Collectively, Megan and Jemma have a solid pulse on the team off, around and the field. They communicate honestly with the staff and have NCAA Championship and FIH game experiences."

Over 10,000 fans came out to see the Terrapins play at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in 2010, which helped the Terps lead the ACC in attendance once again and go 15-0 at home.

"The Final Four was an awesome experience and it was overwhelming to see the number of people that came out to support us," Buckley said. "Terp fans are always so vocal, and I know that the girls get really pumped up by playing in front of large crowds. We are hoping to see some big numbers again this year."

In 2011, Maryland will play five teams ranked in the top 10 of the final 2010 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I National Coaches poll. A total of nine teams ranked in the final top 20 are on the Terps' schedule this year.

The Terrapins will open the season at the Conference Cup, a four-team event hosted by Temple in Philadelphia. Maryland will play Boston University at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 and the tournament-host Owls Sunday, Aug. 28 at 3:30 p.m.

Maryland will play the first of two games against Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. in Norfolk, Va. The Terps are 26-22-1 all-time vs. the Monarchs, who have won nine NCAA titles - more than any other team. Maryland is second with seven championships. Old Dominion is the only team Maryland has played twice in the regular season annually since 1999.

"I think from the very beginning with BU, this schedule is challenging," Frazer said. "Playing competitive games against Old Dominion early in the year and again in October can really help us gauge our growth as a team."

The Terrapins will play host to Michigan in their home opener Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. The Terps beat the Wolverines 4-3 in 2010 for Meharg's 400th career win.

On Sept. 10-11, Maryland will play host to the 16th annual Terrapin Invitational. American, Northwestern, Ohio and Villanova will all head to College Park to play. The Terps will take on Northwestern Saturday at 11 a.m. and American vs. Ohio will follow at 1 p.m. On Sunday, American will take on Northwestern at noon and Maryland will play the final game vs. Villanova at 2 p.m.

The Terps will open their ACC schedule at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at Boston College. The Eagles finished the 2010 season ranked No. 16 in the final poll. Maryland is 8-0 all-time vs. Boston College. In part two of the New England trip, the Terrapins will play at Massachusetts on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. Maryland beat the Minutewomen 4-2 in the NCAA First Round last year.

The following weekend, the Terrapins will return to College Park for a three-game homestand. They will play host to Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. The Demon Deacons ended the 2011 season ranked 13th in the final poll. Maryland beat Wake Forest 5-4 in double overtime in the ACC Tournament semifinals last season.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Maryland will welcome Princeton to College Park. The fourth-ranked Tigers dealt the Terps their only loss of the 2010 campaign on Sept. 28 in New Jersey. They will play at 7 p.m. at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Maryland will welcome ACC opponent and 2010 Final Four team Virginia to College Park on Friday, Sept. 30 for a 5 p.m. game. The Terps beat the Cavaliers 2-1 in overtime in the teams' only meeting last year.

Next, the Terrapins will play four games in eight days. On Saturday, Oct. 8, Maryland will head south to take on Duke at 1 p.m. The Terps will play their second game vs. Old Dominion on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. in College Park. Maryland will play at American on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. The Eagles finished the 2010 season No. 9 in the final poll. Local opponent Towson will head to College Park for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Terps will head south to take on North Carolina, who the Terrapins beat three times last year. Maryland won 3-2 in a regular season matchup in College Park, 5-2 in the ACC Championship game in Winston-Salem, N.C., and 3-2 in double overtime in front of an NCAA record crowd for the NCAA championship in College Park.

For senior night, the Terrapins will welcome Drexel to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Maryland opened its 2010 season with a 4-2 win at Drexel. To close out the 2011 regular season, the Terps will head to Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m.

The 2011 ACC Tournament will be played at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex Nov. 3-6. The First and Second Rounds of the 2011 NCAA Tournament will be Nov. 12-13, with the NCAA Semifinals and Finals Nov. 18 and 20 in Louisville, Ky.

The Terrapins return seven of 11 starters from the 2010 NCAA Championship team, including three All-ACC and All-American players in Buckley, Frazer, junior Harriet Tibble and 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year Jill Witmer.