University of Connecticut Athletics
Field Hockey Takes On Maryland Friday In NCAA Semifinals
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (November 15, 2006) — In search of a third national title, the University of Connecticut field hockey team begins its quest Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. against Maryland at Kentner Stadium on the campus of Wake Forest University.
The Huskies enter Friday’s game having won four straight and 16 of their last 18 games. UConn opened postseason play by defeating Louisville (3-2, OT) and Providence (4-3) en route to its third consecutive BIG EAST Tournament Title, the ninth in school history.
UConn went on to post a pair of 3-0 shutouts in the first and second rounds to advance to the NCAA semifinals for the seventh time in school history. The Huskies began the tournament with a convincing 3-0 blanking of Boston University before ousting host institution, Princeton, by an identical 3-0 score to reach the semifinals.
Connecticut and Maryland have met just two times in the all-time series that dates back to the 1985 season. The Terrapins have won both meetings, winning 2-0 in the NCAA quarterfinals in 1885 and earning a 9-1 victory to open the 2000 season.
Individually, junior Lizzy Peijs (Venlo, Holland) leads the Huskies’ offensive attack with 61 points on 23 goals and 15 assists. Entering the weekend, Peijs ranks sixth nationally in points per game (2.77), seventh in goals per game (1.05), ninth in assists per game (0.68) and second in penalty strokes (4.0).
Not far behind, sophomore Lauren Aird (Harare, Zimbabwe) has recorded a total of 51 points on 22 goals and seven assists, leaving her 13th nationally in goals per game (0.92).
Freshman Nicole Muracco leads the Maryland offensive attack as she has tallied a team-leading 33 points on 15 goals and three assists.
Should the Huskies advance into the championship game, UConn would face either Duke or Wake Forest Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.
-UCONN-
