New Facility and New Opportunities Await Temple Field Hockey in 2016

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

New Facility and New Opportunities Await Temple Field Hockey in 2016

8.22.16 | Field Hockey

PHILADELPHIA - When a team loses a large senior class and has an influx of newcomers, many refer to the following season as a "rebuilding year." Second-year Temple field hockey head coach Marybeth Freeman sees the situation differently, and hopes her squad sees only the opportunities in front of them.

"Now, more than ever, especially with the departure of 10 seniors, it is imperative that our team knows that everything right now is up for grabs," said Freeman. "From the goalkeeping to the forward line, we need to work collaboratively as a team and understand that we are always going to put our best foot forward on the field."

Feeling empowered is the name of the game for Freeman and her staff as far as what they look to instill in their student-athletes.

"Last year, there were spots that were a bit more concrete and filled readily," noted Freeman. "Now there are vacated positions and it's really a blank canvas. Those spots are up for anyone's taking. I think that really empowers and inspires a lot of people on this team, and I think it's going to make us even more competitive."

The 2016 Owls will also get inspiration from being the inaugural team to play on Howarth Field at the brand-new Temple Sports Complex. The $22 million project has been completed just in time for the fall, with the complex serving as the home of Temple's field hockey, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer and women's track & field teams.

The space for field hockey and lacrosse, at the southern end of the property by 13th Street and Girard Avenue, is named Howarth Field in recognition of a $500,000 gift from former field hockey student-athlete Cherifa (Nouri) Howarth, '98, and her husband, Greg.

"We're so fortunate to have Howarth Field," said Freeman. "We're extremely grateful to the Howarths and to all the alumni and parents that have made so many contributions, and to the administration that have supported us from the get-go on this whole project. For us to come out here and see this brand new Astroturf 12 and this whole new facility, and the locker room, it's really special. It definitely empowers the women on the team, and hopefully also those that aspire to be on the team and those that played before us. We're just so thankful for it."

Temple is led by four seniors this season in Katie Foran, Paige Gross, Ali Meszaros and Michelle Walsh. Foran, Gross and Meszaros have been named the 2016 team co-captains. While no current team members are decorated as far as conference honors and awards from past seasons, the senior group and other veterans have played integral roles in the successes of the last few years.

Five of the Owls' 13 returning players started in at least half of the team's games last season. Sarah Keer, returning for her fourth season as a redshirt junior, and junior Rachael Mueller, scored four goals apiece to tie for fourth on the team in 2015. Gross, juniors Maiyah Brown and Hattie Kuhns and redshirt sophomore Maris Stern all notched two goals apiece last year.

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Kucera returns in the midfield after making 11 starts in her first active season with the Owls. Meszaros, who started in 18 of 21 games and notched an assist, returns to help anchor the backfield. The goalkeeping position will see sophomore Chloe Johnson and freshman Maddie Lilliock vying for the spot, with both being relative newcomers as Johnson played just 13 minutes in the cage last year. Many other freshmen will be counted on to make an immediate impact, and the talent level is deep among the eight-member rookie class.

What Freeman wants her players to understand is how important every role is on the team, and she says her and her staff have seen that idea take hold.

"It's ok if you start and it's ok if you don't," she says. "Everyone on this team has a role and everyone needs to be empowered by that philosophy. From where we finished in the spring to where we are now, implementing that, they're totally on board with it. When you have a team that has wrapped their heads around that philosophy, it makes our job as a staff significantly easier and more fun."

Freeman is impressed so far with the leadership and enthusiasm displayed by her entire squad. "Our returning group is doing a great job of leading this large group of underclassmen," she said. "To have these underclassmen start up with the energy they've had is directly related to the energy our returners have had."

As always, Temple has scheduled many of the best teams in Division I, and will be playing against competition from eight of the 12 conferences in the NCAA. The Owls begin their season in the Conference Cup Tournament hosted by nearby Saint Joseph's University. Temple will face defending NCAA champion Syracuse on Friday, Aug. 26 before playing host Saint Joseph's on Sunday, Aug. 28.

The home schedule begins for the Owls on Friday, Sept. 2 against Penn State at 6 p.m., and continues with a game against La Salle on Sunday, Sept. 4. "Our home opening weekend features two in-state opponents," said Freeman. "Our long-lasting and respected rivalry with Penn State will make for an exciting playing experience, and La Salle's proximity to Temple will also draw some big crowds. It should be an excellent weekend of hockey."

The contests against Penn State and La Salle will be the first two in a six-game homestand for Temple that also includes city rival Drexel (Sept. 11) and region rival Delaware (Sept. 9). The fifth game of that homestand sees the Owls starting BIG EAST play, hosting Providence on Friday, Sept. 16.

The former six-team BIG EAST has now grown to eight in 2016, with the addition of Liberty and Quinnipiac. The new schools are the last two Temple will face in conference play.

The Owls' 2015 season turned around in a 1-0 defeat of #20 Old Dominion on the road, and Temple will face the Monarchs at home this season on Oct. 7.

The BIG EAST Tournament is set for Friday and Sunday, Nov. 4 and 6 at Temple and will feature the top four teams following the conclusion of the regular season. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 12.

"In order for us to identify what we need to work on, I think it's important that we play the best teams," said Freeman. "In order for us to constantly push the envelope on how far we can go, we have to continually put ourselves in a position to be challenged. That's the way we're always going to work things, to help put us in the best situation at the end of the year and our BIG EAST Championships."