COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
It's been a busy spring for the Maryland field hockey team and head coach Missy Meharg, as the Terrapins welcomed new faces, participated in tournaments, hosted a golf invitational and named team captains during their time of training and preparation for the 2003 fall season.
March And April Madness
The Terrapins kicked off their spring campaign with a second-place finish at the Big Apple Indoor Invitational. The Terrapins made the trip to New York City and played in the tournament at Riverbank State Park, Feb. 22-23.
The Terps held their own Maryland Indoor Invitational at venerable Cole Field House on March 8. One of the Terrapin teams was crowned champion at the end of an all-day affair, emerging from a field composed of two Maryland teams, one Terp alumni team, and two squads from the University of Delaware.
The Terps next traveled to Virginia Beach, Va., for the Sun, Sand & Hockey Invitational tournament at the U.S. National Team training center. Maryland battled to a 6-2 record in full-field action, meeting squads from James Madison, Duke, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Lafayette and Richmond. Maryland also faced the U.S. Under-23 team during a rainy weekend at the beach, April 5-6.
Finally, the current Terrapins faced a determined group of former Terps during Maryland Field Hockey's annual Alumni Weekend, April 11-13. The new Terrapins prevailed, 5-2, in an event that kicked off a fun-filled weekend. Maryland welcomed back former players Keli Smith (U.S. National Team), Dina Rizzo (U.S. National Team), Autumn Welsh, Carli Harris, Carol Senkler, Angie Klingerman, Megan Kelly, Ashley Hohnstine, Dawn Christensen and senior Kateri Simon, among others.
Terps To Break Ground On New Facility
Maryland Athletics announced that the initial stages of construction on the Terps' new field hockey facility will commence the week beginning April 28. Campus Parking Lot 4A, the site for the new facility, has been quarantined as preparations for the groundbreaking have begun.
The beginning phases of the Terps' new facility will consist of a state-of-the-art artificial turf playing surface and seating for fans. Follow along with photo updates of the facility's construction at www.umterps.com.
Silvetti, Harris Named Terps' Captains For 2003
Rising juniors Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Pa.) and Kristin Harris (Lititz, Pa.) have been named captains for the 2003 season, head coach Missy Meharg announced at the end of spring workouts. The two emerged in leadership roles during the spring season and were voted to captaincy by their teammates.
"This is the first time we have selected captains in the spring prior to our traditional season," said Meharg. "Both Sara and Kristin showed exceptional leadership during the spring season. Both have pertinent strengths."
Silvetti, a redshirt sophomore for the 2002 season and 2003 spring, has been a two-year starter in the Terps' backfield. She has made appearances in two NCAA tournaments, including the Terps' run to the national title game in 2001.
"Sara will be in her fourth season with the program as a redshirt junior," said Meharg. "On the field, she has the experience of having played for national contenders and ACC championship teams. For a player, that is top-level experience."
Harris, who will be a true junior in the fall, has also played a starting role since seeing her first action as a freshman in 2001. She made a smooth transition from defensive back to the midfield in 2002, and earned second team Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors.
"Kristin possesses a never-ending work rate, in both the mental and physical aspects of the game," explained Meharg. "Her leadership by example demands the same hard work by her teammates."
Welcome To College Park
Missy Meharg and her staff welcomed four new Terrapins to the squad in the spring, who, along with the incoming freshman class, will join the team on the field this fall: Brooke Johnson (Albury, New South Wales/Albury H.S.), Heather Kenney (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon H.S./University of Massacusetts), Meredith Long (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City/Boston University) and Lauren Pruitt (Ashton, Md./Sherwood H.S.).
Messimer Named Maryland Female Athlete Of The Year
Two-time All-America senior Carissa Messimer (Mountaintop, Pa.) was named Maryland Athletics' Female Athlete of the Year, as voted upon by the Terrapin head coaches, and was presented the Suzanne Tyler Award at the President's Cup banquet on April 27.
A four time Mid-Atlantic All-Region selection, Messimer's 59 career goals rank fourth all time at Maryland, and her 137 career points rank seventh.
She scored 15 career game-winning goals including the 1999 national championship game winner.
A two-time NFHCA Academic Squad member, Messimer is also a two-time ACC Honor Roll selection as a government & politics and criminal justice major.
She was honored as the inaugural recipient of the "Kate Kauffman Most Outstanding Player Award" for her senior season of field hockey in 2002.
Terrapins Host First Annual Golf Outing
As a part of Alumni Weekend, the Maryland Field Hockey program held its first annual golf invitational. Nearly 20 foursomes took to the links at the University Golf Course for a day of fun and prizes. A umterps.com photo gallery is available by clicking here.
The winning foursome was comprised of head coach Missy Meharg, former U.S. National Team and Massachusetts coach Pam Hixon, and Rick Kelly and Conrad Aschenbach, father and grandfather of Terrapins field hockey and lacrosse players Megan and Kristin Kelly.
The longest drive contests were captured by Ed Ciconte, father of field hockey freshman Jackie Ciconte, and Meharg.
Griffiths, Kauffman-Beach, Smith And Rizzo Head To Spain With Team USA
Terrapin assistant coach Andrew Griffiths, a former Olympian with the Canadian National Team, has joined the U.S. Women's Field Hockey coaching staff for the spring and has embarked with the Stars & Stripes for a four-game series against Spain. The U.S. faces the Spanish National Team at the at the Estadio Federativo in Terrassa, Spain, on April 30, May 2, May 4 and May 6.
Former Terp All-Americans Katie Kauffman-Beach, Keli Smith and Dina Rizzo are now U.S. Team members in the residency program. The squad, ranked No. 9 in the world, takes on the eighth-ranked Spaniards in preparation for the 2003 Pan American Games.
