Temple University Athletics
Temple field hockey head coach Amanda Janney
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple Field Hockey’s Amanda Janney Praises Local Talent
2.26.14 | Field Hockey
Courtesy of Kathleen Harte Simone, philafieldhockey.com
Every so often, we'll catch up with an area college, high school, club, or youth coach to get a pulse on their program and what it means to spearhead a program in the Philadelphia area. Naturally, having played for Temple in the 80s, I kick off this series with some Q&As with the Owls' Head Coach, Amanda Janney (AJ).
Temple earned its first NCAA RPI Top-20 ranking in 12 years and finished the season at #17. What factors contributed to your team's stellar season?
We have amazing student-athletes who work extremely hard on and off the field. It's taken 9 years to recruit the best players and to build a team culture of hard work and dedication and teamwork. Our top scorer Amber Youtz led our team and even after she broke her arm on Sept 20, 2013, she fought back to scored 6 goals in October and November with one arm in a brace. Our top goalkeeper Lizzy Millen was again outstanding this season. She's one of the strongest and fittest players on our team and she was a great leader for our backfield. Our center back and captain, Molly Doyle had a tremendous year. She lead from the front and raised her game to a different level. Our leaders could handle the pressure of the big game and the team fought hard to play for one another.
All but one on the 2013 roster is made up of Pennsylvania student-athletes, six of whom are from the Phila area. Why do you recruit/attract so many local players?
Pennsylvania has the best field hockey players in the county and I believe that we can win with all American players. I believe in our coaching staff and our ability to teach and help players develop to reach their potential in 4 years. I've found a lot of success with the hard working PA players who will dedicate themselves to the team and our team goals.
The local clubs are very competitive and have been getting better every year. With the USA National team in Lancaster and more great facilities and Astroturf fields available to young players, I predict that PA will continue to be the strongest state for HS field hockey.
Will your 2014 roster have any/many players from out of state?
We did have one freshman from NJ in 2013 and we are recruiting more New Jersey players for the future. One of our best players in 2011 was Bridget Settles from Haddonfield, NJ and we will continue to look locally for the best talent around.
(Editor's Note: Earlier this month, Temple signed seven student-athletes for the 2014 season; all are Pennsylvania residents and four hail from Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties including: Madison Gouza (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Samantha Grzegorczyk (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East),Ashley Kucera (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), and Rachael Mueller (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent).
What does it mean to be part of the Philadelphia hockey community?
The competition that we have with the six Philly City 6 teams is something unique that will help our Philly Division 1 teams continue to improve. We have five great colleges with a 20 minute drive, which makes it great for travel so our student-athletes do not miss many classes. We will play each other a few times in the spring and the competitiveness and rivalry between the city teams is a friendly yet fierce fight!
Every so often, we'll catch up with an area college, high school, club, or youth coach to get a pulse on their program and what it means to spearhead a program in the Philadelphia area. Naturally, having played for Temple in the 80s, I kick off this series with some Q&As with the Owls' Head Coach, Amanda Janney (AJ).
Temple earned its first NCAA RPI Top-20 ranking in 12 years and finished the season at #17. What factors contributed to your team's stellar season?
We have amazing student-athletes who work extremely hard on and off the field. It's taken 9 years to recruit the best players and to build a team culture of hard work and dedication and teamwork. Our top scorer Amber Youtz led our team and even after she broke her arm on Sept 20, 2013, she fought back to scored 6 goals in October and November with one arm in a brace. Our top goalkeeper Lizzy Millen was again outstanding this season. She's one of the strongest and fittest players on our team and she was a great leader for our backfield. Our center back and captain, Molly Doyle had a tremendous year. She lead from the front and raised her game to a different level. Our leaders could handle the pressure of the big game and the team fought hard to play for one another.
All but one on the 2013 roster is made up of Pennsylvania student-athletes, six of whom are from the Phila area. Why do you recruit/attract so many local players?
Pennsylvania has the best field hockey players in the county and I believe that we can win with all American players. I believe in our coaching staff and our ability to teach and help players develop to reach their potential in 4 years. I've found a lot of success with the hard working PA players who will dedicate themselves to the team and our team goals.
The local clubs are very competitive and have been getting better every year. With the USA National team in Lancaster and more great facilities and Astroturf fields available to young players, I predict that PA will continue to be the strongest state for HS field hockey.
Will your 2014 roster have any/many players from out of state?
We did have one freshman from NJ in 2013 and we are recruiting more New Jersey players for the future. One of our best players in 2011 was Bridget Settles from Haddonfield, NJ and we will continue to look locally for the best talent around.
(Editor's Note: Earlier this month, Temple signed seven student-athletes for the 2014 season; all are Pennsylvania residents and four hail from Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties including: Madison Gouza (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Samantha Grzegorczyk (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East),Ashley Kucera (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), and Rachael Mueller (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent).
What does it mean to be part of the Philadelphia hockey community?
The competition that we have with the six Philly City 6 teams is something unique that will help our Philly Division 1 teams continue to improve. We have five great colleges with a 20 minute drive, which makes it great for travel so our student-athletes do not miss many classes. We will play each other a few times in the spring and the competitiveness and rivalry between the city teams is a friendly yet fierce fight!
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