PHILADELPHIA -- The Atlantic 10 has released preseason predictions, chosen by the conference's head coaches, for the fall sports season. Temple will send six teams (field hockey, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, and volleyball) into Atlantic 10 competition this fall.
Volleyball head coach Bob Bertucci, heading into his 11th season, enters the 2005 campaign following an 15-18 (11-3 A-10) overall record last season. He returns two seniors (MB Zhen Jia Liu and MB Danielle Bablich) to a squad that advanced to the conference semifinal in 2004. Atlantic 10 head coaches have predicted the Owls as the frontrunners of the conference's East Division.
Amanda Janney, a '99 graduate of Wake Forest and a school career leader in goals (21) and assists (17), enters her first season as Temple's field hockey coach. Janney inherits a veteran team that last season finished with a 9-11 (3-3 A-10) overall record after falling short in the conference semifinals. Janney's inaugural Temple team has been selected to finish third in the Atlantic 10.
Men's soccer head coach David MacWilliams enters his 6th season at Temple. Following a 12-8-1 (7-2-2 A-10) overall record from a year ago, MacWilliams returns six seniors, including preseason all-conference selections, sweeper Joe Brocker and midfielder Tony Donatelli, to a club coming off back-to-back Atlantic 10 championship games. Despite a solid 2004 and their tournament success, MacWilliams' team has been chosen to finish in the middle of the A-10 pack in 2005 at sixth.
Women's soccer head coach David Jones will begin his second full season this fall. Jones and company, led by the team's 2004 leader in points Kelly Ann Lare (7), will look to improve on a 4-14-1 (1-9-1 A-10) overall record in 2004. The Owls have been picked to finish 14th in the Atlantic 10.
The 2005 fall athletic campaign will mark the return of Temple's cross country program. Stephanie Scalessa, Temple's men's and women's track and field head coach, will assume the same role for both men's and women's cross country. Both programs have been selected to finish 14th by Atlantic 10 coaches.
Several Temple teams open their season this weekend. The women's soccer team will travel to Rutgers Friday (8/26) evening at 7:00 p.m. while the volleyball team will host visiting Lehigh in McGonigle Hall at 7:00 p.m., as well. The men's soccer team, in conjunction with the Soccer Seven Play Day held at the Ukranian National Club in Horsham, will play Philadelphia University at 11:00 a.m. Saturday (8/27) morning. The field hockey team travels to Lehigh Saturday afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. start.
