Women S Lacrosse

There were two newcomers but no surprises when the field for the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Tournament was announced last night. Five-time defending champion Maryland is seeded first and returns to the tournament for the 11th straight year. Syracuse and Boston University got in for the first time in the history of their young programs. The 12-team tournament field is identical to the top12 in last week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll, although some positions have changed.

COLLEGE PARK - Maryland's women's lacrosse team is best known for its high-powered offense, but the No.1 Terrapins will make an 11th straight trip to the Final Four thanks to their defense. Senior midfielder Kristin Sommar stole the ball twice in the final two minutes of overtime to spark a 7-6 victory over No.8 Georgetown yesterday in an NCAA tournament quarterfinal game at Ludwig Field. Both times, Sommar caused turnovers at Georgetown's attacking end of the field. On the first, she knocked down a Hoyas pass and freshman Sonia Judd's transition goal finished off the play on a feed from Jen Adams with 1:46 remaining in overtime.

NCAA officials announced yesterday that Johns Hopkins University will be host to the Division I and Division III women's lacrosse championships next year. The championships were held at Homewood Field for the first time in 1999 before moving to Lions Stadium at the College of New Jersey in Ewing this year. Beginning with the Division I semifinals May 18, Homewood will hold three straight days of women's lacrosse in 2001. The Division III semifinals will be held May 19, followed by both championship games on the 20th.

Renee Tirocchi scored four goals to lead host UMBC (4-5, 2-1) to an 18-2 win over Northeast Conference rival Sacred Heart (6-2, 1-1) yesterday in women's lacrosse. Mount St. Mary's 15, Quinniplac 6: Ashley Rusk scored five goals to lead the Mount (3-11, 1-2 Northeast Conference).

At this weekend's Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse tournament, No. 2 Loyola will be out to change a pattern that has developed in recent years. The defending champion Greyhounds have met James Madison in four straight CAA finals, alternating titles since 1997. This being an odd-numbered year would seem to be James Madison's turn, but the No. 13 Dukes (7-6) faded to 3-3 in the conference as the Greyhounds (11-1) swept all six opponents, outscoring them by an average of 13.7-6.

Maryland's No. 1 women's lacrosse team remained undefeated last night with a 12-11 win over No. 4 Dartmouth despite the suspension or impending suspension of several players for violating a team rule. According to a university source, "about six" Terps faced disciplinary action for "a violation of team rules." Each of those players must serve a one-game suspension although it is "the coach's decision" which game a player must sit out, said the source. Only one regular starter was not in the starting lineup last night at Dartmouth.

COLLEGE PARK - In one sense, University of Maryland sports haven't strayed far from the norm in 2001: Men's basketball headed deep into the NCAA tournament, field hockey went deeper and women's lacrosse won yet another national title. On the flip side, consider that men's basketball team in context: given up for dead in February, making a rush in March for the school's first Final Four and, by October's Midnight Madness event, becoming nearly an afterthought to football's Orange Bowl-bound team, despite having four returning starters and a No. 2 national ranking.

The Loyola women's lacrosse team found out last night that its quest for an elusive national title will begin with a game against a familiar opponent. The No. 1 Greyhounds (15-1) earned the top seed in the NCAA Division I championships and will open at home against UMBC on Thursday. The Retrievers (10-8) gained one of the tournament's eight automatic bids by capturing their second straight Northeast Conference championship. In the season opener for both teams, Loyola defeated UMBC, 16-4, on March 4. "I think UMBC is a very solid team and they have a lot of great athletes," said Loyola associate head coach Kerri Johnson.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Most athletes will say it's hard to beat the same team three times in the same season, and Virginia's women's lacrosse team proved that to No. 2 Maryland last night. The Terrapins won the regular-season meeting and the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship game, but the No. 3 Cavaliers turned that around last night with a 9-8 victory. Cary Chasney scored the game-winner with 1:33 left in the NCAA Division I semifinal at the Carrier Dome. The Terrapins (18-4)

Moves Baseball DEVIL RAYS: Recalled IF Damian Rolls from Triple-A Durham. Optioned IF Jared Sandberg to Durham. DIAMONDBACKS: Activated P Mike Koplove from 15-day DL. Optioned P Scott Service to Triple-A Tucson. METS: Placed P Mike Stanton on 15-day DL, retroactive to June 11, with torn meniscus in left knee. Purchased contract of P Jason Roach from Triple-A Norfolk. Moved P Pedro Astacio from 15-day to 60-day DL. PADRES: Activated P Kevin Jarvis from 60-day DL. Recalled P Oliver Perez from Triple-A Portland.