Temple University Athletics
Field Hockey Ranked 17th in NFHCA Coaches Poll; Owls Off to Best Start Since 1991
9.24.13 | Field Hockey
NFHCA Coaches Poll (Sept. 24)
PHILADELPHIA - For the third week in a row, Temple field hockey is ranked in the top 20 in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll. The Owls, now ranked 17th, are 6-2 overall which is their best start to a season since 1991.
Temple has won three games in a row, including its BIG EAST opener at Villanova by a score of 4-1 on Sept. 20. Two days later, the Owls beat Longwood at home in double overtime, 3-2. Temple is currently ranked second in NCAA Division I in saves percentage at .822, with goalkeeper Lizzy Millen being ranked third individually in saves percentage at .817. Millen has played every minute in goal for the Owls, and the slight discrepency is due to defensive saves by Molly Doyle and Taylor Shronk.
Amber Youtz is ranked third nationally in points per game (3.13) and goals per game (1.25). As a team, Temple is sixth in the nation with 3.25 assists per game.
This is the first Owls' team to be nationally ranked in 12 years. In September of 2001, Temple was ranked 17th for just a single week. This year's team is now ranked for a third straight week, after entering the poll at No. 11 on Sept. 10.
Temple will play its BIG EAST home opener on Friday against Rutgers at 3:00 p.m., and will also host Sacred Heart on Sunday in a non-conference match-up at 2:00 p.m.
