Aug. 28, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- No. 23 Maryland faces an early-season test as it hosts the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on Tuesday night at Ludwig Field. The game is a rematch of the 1999 NCAA second round game won by the Nittany Lions 3-2 in University Park, Pa. Penn State went on to the Women's College Cup after the hard-fought battle with the Terps, before the Lions lost to eventual champion North Carolina in the semifinals.

Both teams are coming off season-opening shutout victories. Behind Carly Viher's (Mentor, Ohio) first-career goal, the Terps blanked regional rival Rutgers, 1-0 on Friday night in New Jersey. Penn State easily handled George Mason, 3-0 at Jeffrey Field as freshman Heidi Drummond scored her first two college goals.

Game Facts and Coverage
Game 2: No. 4 Penn State at No. 23 Maryland
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ludwig Field (4,500), College Park, Md.

2000 Records: Maryland: 1-0-0 (0-0-0 ACC), Penn State: 1-0-0 (0-0-0 Big Ten)
Series History: Tied 2-2-0. Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 1999 - Penn State 3, Maryland 2 in NCAA second round at University Park, Pa.

The Coaches:
Maryland: Shannon Higgins-Cirovski (81-69-12/.537 overall/9th yr., 12-10-1/.543 at Maryland/2nd yr.)
Penn State: Patrick Farmer (212-54-27/.770 overall/14th yr., 102-37-7/.723 at Penn State/7th yr.)

Radio Coverage: Penn State: WMAJ (1450 AM), talent: Pat Boland.

Records & Rankings
Tuesday's game with Penn State is the second game for both clubs. Maryland, which is 1-0 in 2000, finished the 1999 season with an 11-10-1 overall record and a 4-2-1 mark in the ACC to finish second in the conference. The Terps were ranked No. 23 in the final NSCAA poll of last season and begin the 2000 season with the same rank. Maryland is ranked No. 24 in the SoccerTimes.com and American Soccer Writers polls.

Penn State is 1-0 in 2000 after finishing the 1999 season with a 21-4-1 overall record as the Nittany Lions advanced to Women's College Cup semifinals. Penn State captured the Big Ten title with a 9-0-1 record in 1999. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 4 in the final NSCAA poll of last season and begins the 2000 season ranked No. 4 in the NSCAA poll. Penn State is No. 2 in the preseason Soccer Buzz and Soccer America polls, No. 4 in the SoccerTimes.com and preseason American Soccer Writers polls.

Maryland-Penn State Series History
The Terps and Nittany Lions have played in each of the four previous seasons with each team winning twice. Penn State took last year's meeting in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by a score of 3-2 on Nov. 14.

In the 1998 meeting, Maryland opened the season at Penn State and fell to the Nittany Lions, 3-0 on Sept 4. Maryland won the 1997 meeting -- the last in College Park -- by a score of 3-1 on Oct. 31. The first meeting between the teams came on Oct. 6, 1996 when then-ranked No. 4 Maryland topped Penn State, 3-1 at the George Mason Tournament held in Fairfax, Va.

In all four meetings between the teams, both clubs were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game.

Maryland-Penn State Series
Oct. 6, 1996 No. 4 Maryland 3, No. 15 Penn State 1 Fairfax, Va. (George Mason Tournament)
Oct. 31, 1997 No. 18 Maryland 3, No. 21 Penn State 1 College Park, Md.
Sept. 4, 1998 No. 25 Penn State 3, No. 18 Maryland 0 University Park, Pa.
Nov. 14, 1999 No. 6 Penn State 3, No. 25 Maryland 2 University Park, Pa. (NCAA Second Round)

Wins Against Ranked Teams
The Terps will be seeking their first-ever win against a team ranked in the top five when they host No. 4 Penn State on Tuesday. Maryland's first favorable result against a top-five team was a tie against then-No. 4 Connecticut when it battled to a 2-2 tie on Oct. 11, 1998.

All-time, Maryland has recorded 26 wins in program history against teams ranked in the NSCAA Top 25, including four last season.

In 1999, then-unranked Maryland upset No. 9 Duke on Sept. 18 (4-3 in OT), No. 9 Clemson on Oct. 17 (2-1 in OT), No. 11 Wake Forest on Oct. 22 (1-0) and No. 21 Duke in the ACC Quarterfinals on Nov. 4 (2-1).

Over the past five years, dating to 1995, Maryland has picked up 22 wins against top 25 teams.

The highest ranked team that Maryland has ever upset was then-No. 7 Duke, when the Terps topped the Blue Devils, 2-1 in College Park on Oct. 1, 1995. Maryland has picked up seven other wins against top-10 teams and that tie against UConn in 1998.

Wins/Ties Against Top 10 Teams
Oct. 8, 1993 Maryland 2, No. 8 William & Mary 1
Oct. 1, 1995 No. 12 Maryland 2, No. 7 Duke 1
Oct. 12, 1997 No. 19 Maryland 2, No. 9 Clemson 0
Nov. 7, 1997 No. 18 Maryland 2, No. 8 Duke 1
Sept. 18, 1998 Maryland 3, No. 9 Duke 1
Oct. 11, 1998 No. 24 Maryland 2, No. 4 Connecticut 2
Sept. 19, 1999 Maryland 4, No. 9 Duke, 3 (OT)
Oct. 17, 1999 Maryland 2, No. 9 Clemson 1 (OT)

Maryland's Last Game
Terps Top Rutgers In Opener, 1-0

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Sophomore back Carly Viher (Mentor, Ohio) opened the 2000 season with a header into the upper left corner of the goal off a corner kick from sophomore Dana Jarzyniecki (Rochester, N.Y.) 5:17 into the season opener to give Maryland a 1-0 win at Yurcak Field last Friday night. The win marked the fifth time in six years Maryland opened the season with a victory, four of which came by shutout.

"I feel really good about the victory," said coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski. "This was a great starting point and building block for the season. We got some great performances from freshman Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.), who had four shots all on goal and obviously Viher with the goal had a strong performance."

"We had a lot of opportunities in the first half and didn't capitalize. But it helps us to learn about ourselves, I really feel we connected overall, though."

The goal, which came on the Terps' first shot of the season, was the first of Viher's career and also represented her first career point. Kim King (Media, Pa.) hit the left post with a rifle shot with 29 minutes left in regulation, which could have given Maryland a two-goal lead.

Maryland senior keeper Riki-Ann Serrins (Mission Viejo, Calif.) made one save to earn her ninth career shutout, as she played all 90 minutes.

Box Score
Maryland (1-0) 1 0 -- 1
Rutgers (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Scoring: Maryland - Carly Viher (Dana Jarzyniecki ) 5:17, Rutgers - none.
Goalkeeping: Maryland - Riki-Ann Serrins (90 minutes, 0 GA, 1 saves), Rutgers - Christine Caldwell (90 minutes, 1 GA, 5 saves).
Team Stats: Maryland - Shots 6-5=11, Corner Kicks 2-5=7, Saves 0-1=1, Fouls 2-5=7, Offsides 1-0=1. Rutgers - Shots 2-3=5, Corner Kicks 0-3=3, Saves 3-3=6, Fouls 5-5=10, Offsides 1-2=3. Att: 766

Viher Scores First
Sophomore Carly Viher registered her first college goal in the win over Rutgers. Viher had played and started in 22 games as a freshman, but did not score as she took six shots.

She is expected to play a more offensive role from the defense in 2000, which was demonstrated in the season-opener at Rutgers.

Serrins On The All-Time Lists
With a shutout in the season opener at Rutgers, Riki-Ann Serrins (Mission Viejo, Calif.) raised her career total to nine in three-plus seasons. That total ranked fifth all-time on the Maryland career shutout list.

Teammate Ali Wolff (Richmond, Va.), who is redshirting in the 2000 season, ranks third all-time in career shutouts with 11.5.

Career Shutout Leaders
1. Heather Rowe (1988-91) 12
2. Missy Price (1993-96) 12
3. Ali Wolff (1997-Present) 11.5
4. Cailin Mullins (1990-93) 10
5. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Present) 9

Career Goals Against Average
1. Kassie Knecht (1995-96) 1.07
2. Missy Price (1993-96) 1.22
3. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Present) 1.31
4. Ali Wolff (1997-Present) 1.84
5. Heather Rowe (1988-91) 2.21

Career Saves Leaders
1. Cailin Mullins (1990-93) 361
2. Heather Rowe (1988-91) 258
3. Missy Price (1993-96) 216
4. Ali Wolff (1997-Present) 189
5. Riki-Ann Serrins (1997-Present) 125

Opening In August
Maryland opened its season on the earliest date in school history when it defeated Rutgers 1-0 on Aug. 25. Maryland had previously opened its seasons in August in 1996 with a 1-0 victory against St. Mary's in Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug. 30, 1996 and a 2-0 win at George Washington on Aug. 29, 1999 to open last season.

Overall, the Terps are 3-0 in August, outscoring their opponents 4-0 in those wins.

The Last Maryland-Penn State Game (Nov. 14, 1999)

Terps Fall To Penn St. in NCAAs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. --The No. 25 Maryland women's soccer team was defeated by No. 6 seed Penn State in an NCAA Second Round match at Jeffrey Field, 3-2. The loss ended the Terps' exciting season with an 11-10-1 record. Maryland had advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years and finished the season having won eight of 11 games.

One of Maryland's seniors nearly single-handedly sent the Terps to the NCAA quarterfinals. Forward Lindsay Basalyga came up with two goals, her third and fourth of the NCAA Tournament. After a scoreless hard-fought first half, Basalyga opened the scoring as she took a pass from freshman Sally Harrison and beat Emily Oleksiuk to the low right corner of the net at 56:39.

Penn State came back to tie the game at one, as Shari Pickett scored on a high shot at 61:33. Basalyga then came back with her second of the game as she beautifully placed a free kick into the right side of the goal at the 74:38 mark. But, just 19 seconds later Kelly Convey tied the game off a pass from Christie Welsh at 74:57.

Convey tallied her second goal in 1:28 as she took a cross from Bonnie Young and scored with 13:35 left in regulation.

Box Score

No. 25 Maryland (11-10-1) 0 2 -- 2
No. 6 Penn State (19-3-1) 0 3 -- 3

Scoring: Maryland - Lindsay Basalyga (Sally Harrison) 56:37, Basalyga (unassisted) 74:38. Penn State - Shari Pickett (unassisted) 61:33, Kelly Convey (Christie Welsh) 74:57, Convey (Bonnie Young) 76:25.
Goalies: Maryland - Ali Wolff (45 minutes, 0 saves, 0 GA), Riki-Ann Serrins (45 minutes, 1 save, 3 GA) Carly Viher (1 defensive save). Penn State - Emily Oleksiuk (90 minutes, 1 saves, 2 GA).
Team Stats: Maryland - Shots 4, Corner Kicks 5, Saves 2, Fouls 10, Offsides 1. Penn State - Shots 13, Corner Kicks 9, Saves 1, Fouls 6, Offsides 3.
Attendance: 734.

New Faces Get Playing Time
Maryland's freshman class features two of the Baltimore-Washington area's biggest high school stars in 1999 Baltimore Sun Player of the Year Jen Biscoe (Baltimore, Md.) and Washington Post Player of the Year Audra Poulin (Silver Spring, Md.). Both players made their collegiate debuts against Rutgers. Biscoe started and took four shots -- all on goal. Poulin came off the bench to gain valuable minutes.

Joining Biscoe in the starting lineup was fellow freshman midfielder Katie Ludwig (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), who was a 1999 NSCAA high school All-American.

Other new faces on the 2000 roster are freshman back Jennifer Lovecchio (Vineland, N.J.), freshmen keepers Kristen Barnhill (Charlottesville, Va.) and Lynn Scharf (Woodstock, Va.). Ludwig was a high school All-American and teamed with Lovecchio in club soccer with the Medford Strikers, which won the New Jersey state titles in 1997 and 1998. Barnhill was named Central Virginia Player of the Year as a junior and senior.

Also joining the team as a walk-on is sophomore midfielder Sarah McClellan (Bowie, Md.). Playing at Division III Bridgewater College in Virginia last season, McClellan played and started in 17 games. She finished second on the team scoring with eight goals and five assists for 21 points.

Winning The Home Openers
Maryland has won six straight home openers, including the last five at Ludwig Field. Last season, they trounced UMBC, 6-1 on Sept. 1, 1999. This year's home opener on Aug. 29, is the earliest home opener in school history.

All time, Maryland is 8-5 in home openers dating to its first varsity game against Catholic on Sept. 16, 1987, an 8-0 victory.

The last time Maryland opened at home against a ranked team was in 1994, when the then-unranked Terps upset No. 18 UNC Greensboro, 4-0.

Maryland Home Openers In The 1990s
Sept. 2, 1990 George Washington 2, Maryland 0
Sept. 8, 1991 UNC Greensboro 3, Maryland 0
Sept. 5, 1992 Duke 2, Maryland 0
Sept. 4, 1993 North Carolina 7, Maryland 0
Sept. 5, 1994 Maryland 4, UNC Greensboro 0
Sept. 3, 1995 Maryland 6, Virginia Tech 0
Sept. 7, 1996 Maryland 6, New Hampshire 1
Sept. 1, 1997 Maryland 3, Wright State 1
Sept. 11, 1998 Maryland 3, USC 0
Sept. 1, 1999 Maryland 6, UMBC 1

Home Sweet Home
Maryland has made a habit of winning at Ludwig Field. The Terps hold a 43-13-3 record all-time in games played at Ludwig, dating to its construction in 1995. They have won 75.4 percent of the games in College Park.

The Terps have won five of the last six games at Ludwig dating to midway through the 1999 season.

Captains For 2000
Maryland features a trio of senior captains for the 2000 season. Senior keeper Ali Wolff returns for her second season as a captain, but Wolff is expected to redshirt the 2000 season and allow fellow senior keeper Riki-Ann Serrins to handle the bulk of playing time. Both Wolff and Serrins rank on the top five of Maryland all-time goalkeeping lists in every category.

"We have two great keepers and we were going to lose both of them in the same year, which would put us in a desperate situation," said Higgins-Cirovski. "With Ali redshirting, we will have a great leader around for another year and that's a coach's heaven."

Seniors Vita McKenna and Julie Nelson will also serve as captains in 2000. McKenna will play a key role for the Terps in 2000 in Higgins-Cirovski's newly created position of defensive midfielder. "Vita has really come along during the spring and summer seasons," said Higgins-Cirovski. "Her confidence is really soaring and she will be a leader for us on the field at all times as a captain."

Nelson returns to the field after missing the spring season following reconstructive ankle surgery. Nelson scored three goals and handed out three assists for nine points in 1999. "I'm looking forward to having Julie as part of our offense" said Higgins-Cirovski. "She is such a fighter and an emotional leader. Others follow her because of her intensity."

Playing The Tough Schedule
In 2000, Maryland will face one of the nation's most difficult schedules in 2000. Shannon Higgins-Cirovski has scheduled 10 teams that are ranked in the NSCAA preseason top 25, including five that were ranked in the top seven. Included in that group is a meeting with No. 1 North Carolina, the defending 1999 NCAA Champion on Oct. 29 in Chapel Hill.

Maryland will take on three of the four NCAA Tournament semifinalists >from 1999 in North Carolina (ranked No. 1), Santa Clara (No. 3) and Penn State (No. 4). Other ranked teams in the final poll which Maryland will play are Clemson (No. 6), Stanford (No. 7t), Wake Forest (No. 12), William & Mary (No. 13), Virginia (No. 16), Duke (No. 22) and James Madison (No. 25).

Maryland's home opener on Tuesday, Aug. 29, will be a rematch of the 1999 NCAA Second Round game between the Terps and Penn State. Maryland battled hard and nearly defeated the eventual national semifinalist, falling 3-2 on Nov. 14, 1999.

Also highlighting Maryland's 2000 schedule is a trip to Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., where the Terps will take on the host Cardinal and national semifinalist Santa Clara on Sept. 15 and 17. The ACC Tournament will take place at Duke from Nov. 2 through Nov. 5.

WMUC Broadcast Information
Maryland's student radio station WMUC (88.1 FM) will broadcast eight Maryland women's soccer games in 2000. A pregame show will air approximately 30 minutes prior to kickoff. WMUC's broadcasts can be heard live on the Internet at wmuc.umd.edu.

2000 WMUC Broadcast Schedule
Fri., Sept. 1 Duke 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 6 Towson 7:00 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 12 George Washington 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 27 George Mason 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 1 NC State 1:00 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 6 Virginia 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 20 Florida State 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 22 William & Mary Noon

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Terrapin Fan Phone
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