Area field hockey standouts give top-ranked Terps a boost

College Park (Map, News) - Growing up, many area kids have dreams of racing down the field and scoring goals or touchdowns while proudly wearing the red, white, black and gold of the University of Maryland.

Christina Restivo and Kim Ziegler are living that dream, playing on the Terps’ top-ranked and defending national champion field hockey team.

As a high school star at Hereford, Restivo, a redshirt senior from Parkton, earned an All-State nod as goalie in 2001, leading her team to its second state title during her tenure. For the Terrapins, she has served as a reliable leader and backup goalie, posting five career shutouts and a career 1.33 goals-against-average.

“A lot of my friends and people I knew in high school went to Maryland and had great things to say about its educational programs,” said Restivo. “And if you play sports, you dream about going to a Division I school like Maryland.”

At Kingsville High, Ziegler, a redshirt sophomore from Fallston, led the Cougars to two state championship game appearances in her career, winning one. The two-time All-State player was also a softball standout, winning the state title as a senior. At Maryland, Ziegler has made an impact in her second playing year, already posting highs in starts (four), goals (four) and points (eight) this season.

“I lived in the Hartford County area, I grew up in a very dedicated (rec) program,” said Ziegler, a forward and part-time starter. “I started during my middle-school years, and through that I got to see Maryland play.”

For Restivo and Ziegler, they are the ones now being watched — and looked up to — on the field.

“My friends are all close and come to the games,” Restivo said, “And my parents get to come, because they are close enough.”

“A lot of my friends are at Maryland,” Ziegler said. “I get IMs or Facebook messages all the time from friends who have come out to see me play.”