FIELD HOCKEY

Top Teams

Maryland's Tagliente (4) leads a seasoned squad. Scott K. Brown

1. MARYLAND
With all but two starters back from last season's ACC title-winning squad, the Terps are ready to lay claim to the NCAA championship. All-America midfielder Carla Tagliente (17 goals last year) and forward Keli Smith (10 goals), both juniors, will lead the attack, and '98 ACC Rookie of the Year Autumn Welsh and junior goalkeeper Angela Platt anchor the defense.

2. OLD DOMINION
If forward Marina DiGiacomo (30 goals and 24 assists last year) suffers no lingering effects from an ACL tear in the spring, the defending national champs could return to the title game. But the loss of All-America goalie Jamie Hill and back Mimi Smith means sophomore keeper Marybeth Freeman must step up.

3. NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heels will work to avoid a repeat of last year's end-of-season fizzle. U.S. national team member Jana Toepel will switch from defender to midfield, while junior Kristen McCann will lead the scoring attack along with sophomores Katie McDonald and Abbey Woolley—a speedy trio that should compensate for the loss of 1998 leading scorer Nancy Pelligreen.

4. UCONN
The Huskies, who lost to Princeton in the semifinals last year, have 10 starters back (led by top scorers Katie Stephens and Carrie Mahoney, plus national team member Amy Herz), and six freshmen are expected to contribute. The roster is loaded with scorers, and foes won't be able to shut them all down.

5. JAMES MADISON
After a 14-9 season, the Dukes come back strong with a core of seasoned players and three incoming high school All-Americas. Junior forward Julie Martinez, the squad's top scorer in '97 with 25 goals and five assists, returns after missing last year with a knee injury.

6. PENN STATE
Six starters graduated, but the addition of freshman goalie Annie Zinkavich (a two-time all-state selection from Kingston, Pa., who had a .922 save percentage in high school) is a plus, as is a strong backfield.

7. MICHIGAN
Freshman forward Jessica Rose should contribute right away on offense, and senior back Ashley Reichenbach and junior goalie Kati Oakes will make the defense tough to penetrate.

8. VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers, who lost seven starting seniors, will try to adapt their game to the strengths of a new lineup. Speed—especially that of forwards Lorraine Vizzuso, a junior, and Meredith Elwell, a senior—will come in handy.

9. NORTHEASTERN
Seniors Jackie Carl, a midfielder, and Heidi Benson, a forward, will get the Huskies past a tough start.

10. DUKE
The Blue Devils have relied on defense but are now more balanced with the emergence of forward Corey Ceccolini (14 goals and seven assists last season).

Hot Dates

Nov. 4, 5 & 7
ACC tournament, Wake Forest University

Nov. 19 & 21
NCAA Division I tournament, Northeastern University, Boston

Division II

Lock Haven University ceded the title to Bloomsburg in overtime last year, but All-America forward Shanna Vitale (who scored all three of the Lady Eagles' goals in the '98 championship game) and the other veterans on this senior-laden squad won't let that happen again this season.

Division III

With All-America Tiffany Trockenbrod heading the attack, look for the College of New Jersey to step up and reclaim the title it last won in 1996.

Cybersources

www.nfhca.org
Weekly scoreboard and polls, tournament brackets

www.psu.edu/sports/fhockey/natstats.html
National statistics compiled every two weeks throughout the season by Penn State

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