Maryland vs. UConn Post-Game Quotes

Nov. 18, 2006

Maryland head coach Missy Meharg

Opening statement...
"Maryland is just ecstatic to advance. We were very prepared for UConn to be a top level team, but probably not as prepared for them to have such quality players. I think that Maryland was put on their heels in the beginning. When you get in to a battle like that with two 15 minutes overtimes, it is just a real test of your will. To go into stroke- we are just so lucky that we have Christina, and that she is good with what she does."

Playing Wake again...
"Wake is a team we are far more familiar with, and we've had some great hockey with them. We will need to reevaluate how we are going to play this game. We were against Wake two years ago here in the finals. So, it is a familiar place especially for our juniors and seniors. They were in this exact situation when the final four was here two years ago. We are looking forward to it."

On the overtime...
"I felt that pretty much in the whole second half that Maryland was really mentally persistent. They were willing to whatever it takes. We probably could have had more creative players and better patterns for goals scoring opportunities in the circle. We were also too urgent, and did not have enough balance."

Connecticut head coach Nancy Stevens

Opening statement...
"I think the game was everything we thought it would be. Maryland has tremendous talent. We knew it would take a heroic effort to compete. Our players did everything asked of them, plus a little bit more. Maryland did a very nice job of finishing all of their penalty strokes, and that was the difference in the game today."

Overtimes...
"The first overtime we were under a lot of pressure, but in the second over time I thought we played very well. We had many opportunities to place the ball in the back of the net. It is always a game of inches- a sport's cliché; but today it every much was so. I thought for us particularly, our goalkeeping play was outstanding. And to have a freshman goalkeeper who as 13 saves- that is just so exciting for us. She was out standing and really put us in a position to win the game. And Jen and the defense in front of her did so well. They really only made one mistake because it was 1-1 going in to the strokes. Pretty good defense today."

On the loss...
"I told the girls after the game that in soccer a game lost in penalty kicks is actually recorded as a tie. It is a show of respect for how close the game was. Of course in hockey we don't dot that, it is recorded as a loss, and we don't move on. But I thought it was important to mention that to them so they would understand to get that close against the defending nation champions speaks to how well they played and how well the fought."

Wake Forest Athletics

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