Aug. 26, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. - Top-ranked Maryland scored four goals in the second half to put Central Michigan away, 5-0, in field hockey action in Evanston, Ill. Freshman Katie O'Donnell had a pair of goals and a pair of assists to pace the two-time NCAA Champion Terps.

Playing in her first-collegiate game, Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.) scored an unassisted goal less than two minutes into the game. The score remained, 1-0, in the Terps (1-0) favor until they broke open the score in the 37th minute. Junior Susie Rowe (London, England) converted on one of Maryland's nine penalty corners, with assists coming from senior Janneke van Leeuwen (Hilversum, Netherlands) and O'Donnell.

Last year's ACC Rookie of the Year and third team All-American, sophomore Nicole Muracco (Sewell, N.J.) tallied back-to-back goals in the 44th and 58th minutes, padding the lead. O'Donnell assisted on Muracco's second goal.

Two seconds before the game was over, O'Donnell capped the afternoon off with the team's fifth goal of the day at 69:58.

The Terps were dominant, attempting 23 shots, while the Chippewas only had two. Maryland also had nine penalty corners, shutting out CMU in the category. All-American senior goalkeeper Kathryn Masson (Richmond, British Columbia) posted her first shutout.

Maryland wins its season opener for the 11th-straight year.

The Terps are back in action on Monday afternoon, battling Northwestern before returning home. The game begins at 1 p.m ET.

Central Michigan (0-1)   0   0   -  0
#1 Maryland (1-0)        1   4   -  5

GOALS: CM, None. MD, Katie O'Donnell (un), 1:54; Susie Rowe (Janneke van Leeuwen, Katie O'Donnell), pc, 37:05; Nicole Muracco (Sarah Scholl), 43:45; Nicole Muracco (Katie O'Donnell), 57:33; Katie O'Donnell (un), 69:58. SHOTS: CM 2, MD 23. PENALTY CORNERS: CM 0, MD 9. SAVES: CM, Kahla Schwall 6 (5 GA, 70:00); MD, Kathryn Masson 2 (0 GA, 70:00) ATTENDANCE: 75.

-TERPS-