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The NCAA News -- December 6, 1999

Maryland retains top status, regains field hockey throne with 2-1 victory

Top-seeded Maryland defeated Michigan, 2-1, in the finals of the Division I Field Hockey Championship November 21 at Northeastern University.

It was the third field hockey title for Maryland and its first since 1993.

The first period of play saw little action until Maryland's Keli Smith collected a loose ball in front of the cage and scored with 10:06 remaining.

The Wolverines' defense managed to hold off all seven first-half corners by the Terrapins. But with time running out in the period, Maryland's Carissa Messimer tipped the ball in as time expired on a shot from just outside the circle by Dina Rizzo.

The tip-in turned out to be the game-winning goal.

"I was pretty much trying to hit someone's foot ... to get someone to flub up and hopefully get a corner," Rizzo said. "It worked out well."

Michigan, which scored four second-half goals in handing Connecticut its first loss of the season in the semifinals, drew within one just over a minute into the second half when Jessica Rose swept Jessica Veith's cross pass behind goalkeeper Ashley Hohnstine.

However, Michigan, making its first appearance in the tournament, could not tie the game.

In the second half, the Wolverines held the Terrapins to two shots and one corner. Hohnstine made her only save of the game in the half to help Maryland preserve the victory.

The 18 shots by both teams tied the record for the fewest shots in a championship match. Maryland also tied the record for the fewest saves in a championship match with one.

The Terps statistically dominated both their semifinal and final opponents by outshooting them, 28-8, and drawing more corners, 21-7.

En route to the championship game, Maryland defeated Iowa in a marathon semifinal game.

The Terps won in the second overtime period, 2-1, to earn a berth in the final.

Michigan's four second-half goals in its 4-3 semifinal win over Connecticut tied an NCAA tournament record, and the combined total of seven goals scored by two teams in a championship round also tied a record.

SEMIFINALS

Iowa 1 0 0 0 -- 1

Maryland 1 0 0 1 -- 2

First half: M -- Carissa Messimer (Keli Smith), 7:23; Lesley Irvine (unassisted), 2:25.

Second overtime: M -- Rachel Hiskins (Caroline Walter), 13:29.

Shots: Maryland 15, Iowa 3. Goalkeeper saves: Maryland (Ashley Hohnstine) 2, Iowa (Kelly Druley) 9. Penalty corners: Maryland 13, Iowa 4.

Michigan 0 4 -- 4

Connecticut 1 2 -- 3

First half: C -- Laura Klein (Amy Herz), 8:41.

Second half: M -- Jocelyn LaFace (unassisted), 27:12; M -- Ali Balmer (Jessica Rose), 14:35; C -- Nicole Castonguay (Allison Sharpe, Laura Klein), 8:18; M -- Kelli Gannon (Courtney Reid, Catherine Foreman), 6:13; C -- Kelly Cochrane (unassisted), 4:33; M -- Molly Powers (unassisted), 1:56.

Shots: Michigan 12, Connecticut 5. Goalkeeper saves: Michigan (Kati Oakes) 2, Connecticut (Danielle Vile) 6. Penalty corners: Michigan 5, Connecticut 3.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Michigan 0 1 -- 1

Maryland 2 0 -- 2

First half: MA -- Keli Smith (unassisted), 10:06; MA -- Carissa Messimer (Dina Rizzo), 0:00.

Second half: MI -- Jessica Rose (Jessie Veith), 33:56.

Shots: Maryland 13, Michigan 5. Goalkeeper saves: Maryland (Ashley Hohnstine) 1; Michigan (Kati Oakes) 7. Penalty corners: Maryland 8, Michigan 3.