Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Rutgers
17th-Ranked Field Hockey Hosts Rutgers in BIG EAST Action on Friday; Sacred Heart on Sunday
9.25.13 | Field Hockey
Live Stats l Live Stream
PHILADELPHIA - In the BIG EAST home opener, 17th-ranked Temple field hockey will host longtime rival Rutgers (3-4, 0-1) on Friday, Sept. 27 at 3:00 p.m. The Owls (6-2, 1-0) will also play a non-conference game at home on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2:00 p.m. against Sacred Heart (3-4). Live stats and a free live stream will be available for both games through the links above.
Temple is ranked in the Top 20 in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll for a third straight week after entering the poll at #11 on Sept. 10. 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, with Alyssa Delp scoring two goals including the game-winner.
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.
TEMPLE IN THE NCAA STATS
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.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights are 3-4 overall and 0-1 in BIG EAST play after a 2-0 loss to #3 Connecticut last weekend. All four of Rutgers' losses have been to teams ranked in the top 20 at the time of the game. Junior Sophie Wright leads the team with four goals and an assist, while freshman Ashpal Bhogal has scored twice and recorded a team-best four assists.
Rutgers and Temple have a long history of being rivals, with the Scarlet Knights leading the all-time series 22-11-2. The Owls won 3-2 in double overtime at Rutgers last year, and also won the meeting before that, 4-3 at home in 2009.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
The Pioneers are 3-4 overall and will play at Albany on Friday before traveling to Temple on Sunday. Sacred Heart has lost its last two games by close margins, 2-1 vs. Fairfield and 1-0 at Holy Cross. Redshirt sophomore Liz Bergman leads the team with four goals for eight points, while sophomore Christine Mace has also totaled eight points with three goals and two assists.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Temple and Sacred Heart.
