NCAA Field Hockey Roundup

Terps, Cavs reach final four

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By From News Services and Staff Reports

Monday, November 16, 2009

Maryland senior Nicole Muracco broke the program's single-season goals record Sunday, and her chance to extend that will come in the NCAA tournament semifinals.

The defending national champion Terrapins coasted past Drexel, 5-0, in College Park to advance to the final four in Winston-Salem, N.C. Top-seeded Maryland (22-0) will face fourth-seeded Princeton on Friday at 2 p.m.

Muracco's first of two goals, which broke a scoreless tie at 28 minutes 30 seconds, gave her the Terrapins record with 29 goals.

"We're truly proud of the women for playing for playing 70 minutes of dominant field hockey against a determined, well-coached Drexel team," Maryland Coach Missy Meharg said. "Alexis Pappas in the midfield was stellar, and Nicole Muracco [was] doing what she does so well -- putting us two goals up, just finishing."

The Dragons finished 19-4.

-- Virginia 3, Michigan State 2: Paige Selenski scored 1:52 into overtime to send the Cavaliers (20-3) to a home win over the Spartans (18-4) and their first semifinal trip since 1998.

"Every day we build to take another step every season," Virginia Coach Michele Madison said.

Virginia, the No. 2 seed, will play third-seeded North Carolina in Friday's second game.