Feb. 9, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland women's soccer coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski announced the signing of three high school seniors to national letters of intent to begin play with the nationally-ranked team in the fall of 2001. Melissa Anderson (Odenton, Md./St. Mary's H.S.), Kimmy Francis (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock H.S.) and Lindsay Niehaus (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursala Academy) have signed on to wear the red, gold, black and white of Maryland.

"We are very happy with our 2001 signing class," said Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, who will enter her third season with the Terps in the fall. "We expect all three players to make an immediate impact next season."

As a forward, Anderson was one of the leading scorers in the state of Maryland as a senior at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Md. She was named to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro and All-South teams. As a senior co-captain Anderson helped the Saints to an 18-2 to come away with the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's A Conference championship. She finished with 13 goals while also adding 12 assists. She played her club soccer for the Bethesda Falcons, the Maryland state champions from 1993-98. Anderson has also played for the USYSA Region I ODP team since 1999.

"Melissa is an exceptional athlete," said Higgins-Cirovski. "She is a very intense player. She has an ability to get behind the defense and a mentality to help the whole team in many areas."

Francis comes to Maryland after a standout career as a forward at Council Rock High School in Newton, Pa. She capped her high school career by being named Pennsylvania State Player of the Year. She was also named an NSCAA All-American. She has also been selected to be a member of the United State Under-19 national team pool which will compete in the 2002 Junior World Cup. As a senior she scored 13 goals and led her area with 14 assists in leading the Rock to a 19-1 record. With her club team the FC Blast, she was named Pennsylvania club player of the year. She has been a member of the USYSA Region 1 team since 1997 and a member of Eastern Pennsylvania ODP since 1995.

"Kimmy is a dynamic, skillful player who has a great feel for the game," said Higgins-Cirovski. "She will give us a great presence on offense, especially when we go into an attack mode."

Niehaus had a stellar career at St. Ursala Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio as a defensive midfielder. She started every game from her freshman through senior year and helped her team to a 52-7-14 record and three Greater Cincinnati titles, three city championships, three Ohio State sectional titles and one Ohio State championship. She was named first team All-Ohio in 2000 as well as first team All-City and All-GGCL. She played her club soccer with Hammer FC, a premier team from 1995-2001, and finished as the team's all-time leading scorer. Her club team appeared in the Ohio semifinals four times. Niehaus has also been a member of the Ohio ODP team since 1996.

"Lindsay is a skillful left-footed player," said Higgins-Cirovski. "She will be a player that will add an important aspect to our team."