Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Louisville
#18 Field Hockey Heads to #17 Louisville on Friday; Hosts Bucknell on Sunday
10.3.13 | Field Hockey
Live Stats l Live Stream (Louisville)Â
Live Stats l Free Live Stream (Bucknell)
PHILADELPHIA - It has been nearly a month since #18 Temple field hockey last faced a nationally-ranked team, and the Owls are hoping for the same level of success this time as they head to #17 Louisville in BIG EAST action on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. Temple will return home on Sunday for a non-conference game against Bucknell at 1:00 p.m.
With a five-game win streak heading into this weekend and the best start for the program since 1990, Temple is currently ranked in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll for a fourth week in a row. With an 8-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the BIG EAST Conference, the Owls stand at No. 18 in the poll.
Temple was unranked earlier this season the last time it faced a nationally-ranked opponent. The Owls defeated #6 Penn State on the road, 3-0, and entered the poll themselves at #11 a few days later.
Last weekend, the Owls picked up a 2-1 BIG EAST win vs. Rutgers and a 3-0 win vs. Sacred Heart. Freshman Katie Foran scored both goals against the Scarlet Knights, and added another along with an assist in the win over Sacred Heart. Senior Lauren Hunt scored the other two goals against SHU, and also assisted on both of Foran's goals vs. Rutgers.
TEMPLE IN THE NCAA STATS
As a team, the Owls are sixth in the nation in assists per game (3.00) and saves percentage (.818). Junior Amber Youtz is second among all players in NCAA Division I in points per game (3.13) and third in goals per game (1.25). Redshirt junior goalkeeper Lizzy Millen is fifth in saves percentage at .813.
FRESHMAN KATIE FORAN BECOMES THE THIRD OWL TO BE NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Temple earned its third weekly award of the season this past Monday when freshman Katie Foran was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Foran was the third Owl to get the award this season, following teammates Molly Doyle and Amber Youtz. Foran led Temple to a pair of wins, scoring three goals and adding an assist. The freshman scored both of the Owls' goals in a 2-1 conference win against Rutgers. Coming off the bench, she scored in the 14th minute to tie the game and notched the game-winner early in the second half. Foran added to her total for the week by scoring another game-winning goal in a 3-0 win vs. Sacred Heart two days later, getting Temple's first goal in the eighth minute of the game. Just over a minute later, Foran assisted on Temple's second goal, and finished with seven points for the week.
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals' record is identical to the Owls' at 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the BIG EAST. They have won four straight, a streak that started with a 3-2 overtime win vs. #20 Old Dominion. Most recently, Louisville won 6-3 at Ohio State. The Cards are currently ranked one spot above Temple at #17. Junior Alyssa Voelmle is the reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for a second time this season, and she scored two goals and an assist in the Ohio State win on Tuesday.Â
Temple has played Louisville only once before, winning the game 1-0 at home back in 1999.
SCOUTING BUCKNELL
The Bison are 5-4 overall, prior to a Saturday game at Lafayette, with results not available at the time of printing. Bucknell has won three of its last four games, and is 2-0 in the Patriot League. Three players have combined to score 17 of the Bisons' 24 goals, led by senior forward Leigh Hillman with seven goals. Senior goalkeeper Erica Perrine has played every minute in the cage for the Bison, making 30 saves for a percentage of .638.
In the all-time series, Temple leads Bucknell 3-1. Last year the Owls won 5-4 on the road, and two years ago they won 4-0 at home in the 2011 season opener.
