Temple University Athletics
2002 FIELD HOCKEY OUTLOOK
8.20.02 | Field Hockey
2002 Field Hockey Outlook: Back to the Future
Lauren Fuchs, entering her ninth season at the helm of the Temple Field Hockey program, is looking foward to improving on last season's short stint in the top 20 national rankings."We fell short of our championship goals last season. Fuchs is expecting a vast improvement from the 2002 editon of Temple Field Hockey."We have made tremendous strides in improving on our weakneses from last season. Many of our players honed their skills by playing competitive hockey this summer. It will definitley help them adjust with the tough schedule we play this season" said Fuchs .
As is tradition with a Coach Fuchs' teams, the 2002 Owls will once again play a grueling early non-conference schedule that begins with The Temple Invitational Tournament . The Owls will host nationally ranked Louisville, Iowa and North Carolina We have acquired enough playing experience last season to win some of these tough early season non-conference games. The tough non conference schedule will definetly be an asset entering Atlantic 10 Conference play later in the season" said Fuchs.
Co-Captains Emily Moyer and Virginia Gonzalez are the only returning seniors on the roster, yet the Owls have a group of young talented players who have accumulated a variety of playing experience.Temple have 15 juniors and sophmores who combined have 238 games of playing experience
Six sophomores return led by forwards, Andrea Duva, Caitlin Bowers and Ashley Shepps. Duva appeared in 16 games, scoring six points on three goals including one game-winning goal. Shepps and Bowers, will be coming off a redshirt year and will be looked to add another dimension to the Owls' offense. The midfielders are Regina Roddy and Katie Stevenson. Roddy appeared in 13 games last season recording one assist.The backs are led by Talia Ruth, Kelly Walsh and Jillian Thomas. Ruth had nine starts in 16 appearances. She also led the Owls with six defensive saves. Walsh also had nine starts in 16 appearances and was second on the team with five defensive saves. Thomas is coming off a redshirt season and will be a great addition to the Owls' defensive end.
The heart of the team will be the eight returning juniors. Many of the juniors earned valuable playing experience last season.The juniors are led by center midfielder Haley Dervinis and back Melissa DeCesaris. Dervinis tied for the team lead with 18 starts, led the team with eight assists and was the Owls fourth leading scorer overall with eight points. DeCesaris started 17 of the 18 games she appeared in, and was Temple's fifth leading scorer last season. Joining Dervinis at forward will be Susan Nase who appeared in 18 games and recorded five points. In the Owls backfield are Rachel Kasper (11 starts in 17 appearances), Kristen Ziegler (played in 11 games) and Morgan Faria (played in 11 games). The Owls will be looking to juniors Erin Conroy and MaryBeth Zakrzewski to anchor their defense in goal Conroy has the most experience having played in seven games, posting 24 saves in 153 minutes of action last season.
The senior co-captains Virginia Gonzalez and Emily Moyer will be relied upon to provide leadership and supply scoring punch to the offense.Gonzalez, a member of the Puerto Rican National Team in 2002, is a scoring threat for the Owls with a lightening fast shot.. Moyer, a defender tied for the team lead in starts with 18 and was second on the team with six assists while recording six points . Coach Fuchs will look to Moyer to add some speed and experience to the midfield.
The Owls have five quality newcomers on the roster Monica Jiao, Rachel Barber, Melissa Fritze and Dannon Mahaffey and Lindsay Walker . Barber and Fritze have great offensive skills and will be looked upon to add scoring strength to the offense. Mehaffey is a very poise and refined player, who will add depth to the defense. Jiao, an offensive scoring threat has been slowed by a preseason knee injury and may not be able to contribute this season.
Temple will be looking to return to conference postseason play after a one year hiatus. The Owls are much improved and have a lethal combination of youth and experience.Their strong early non-conference schedule should pay off later in the season during Atlantic 10 Conference play.We are much improved team and are poised to make a run for the Atlantic 10 championship." said Fuchs
