Temple University Athletics
1998 Season Review
8.13.99 | Field Hockey
Offensively, the Owls were led by veterans Jill Polmateer, Heather Walker and Torie Russell. Defensively, first year goal keeper Serene McGrath minded the net. The Owls fell to Maine 3-2 in overtime in the first game of the season and would lose three other games by one goal. A 1-0 upset win over Michigan State in the Temple Invitational was a special highlight for the Owls who defeated former Owl coach Michele Madison. A schedule loaded with eight top 25 teams took its toll on the young Owls. Polmateer and Walker led the team with 11 points, combining for nine goals and four assists. As a defensive back, Walker also recorded three defensive saves and was selected as a second team Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American. McGrath was third in the nation for saves with 217 and tied a team record against Pennsylvania for most saves in a game (24). Other strong contributors included seniors Kelly Smith and Kathy Tiedemann, who scored the game winner vs. La Salle. Temple suffered a setback when veteran Melanie Wilson went down in game six with a season ending knee injury. Backup goaltender April Herman helped the Owls to the win over Rhode Island and kept the Owls in a 2-1 overtime loss to Virginia Commonwealth. Junior Michelle Murawski scored a goal and an assist, and was an aggressive defender, earning first team Mid-Atlantic Region honors. Despite Atlantic 10 wins over Rhode Island and La Salle, the Owls missed a berth in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. 
(August 13, 1999) -- Temple's 4-16 record did not reflect the tremendous amount of improvement the Owls made during the 1998 season. Head Coach Lauren Fuchs added seven new players and needed to replace a number of key components from the 1997 squad.
