Field Hockey Signs a Strong, Seven-Member Class for 2018

PHILADELPHIA - Representing five different states and the Netherlands, Temple field hockey's seven-member recruiting class for the 2018 season is a strong one. Including four all-state selections, the group signed by third-year head coach Marybeth Freeman is accomplished both on the field and in the classroom.

Joining the Owls in 2018 are Madeline Arnold (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh), Michala Butler (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Annie Judge (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen), Kerrie Lorenz (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes), Nienke Oerlemans (Apeldoorn, Netherlands/Centre for Sports and Education), Tali Popinko (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) and Claire Thomas (Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville).

Arnold is a 5-10 midfielder/back who is a four-year letterwinner and three-year varsity starter for Southern Lehigh High School. She is a two-time all-league selection and helped lead her team to a district

championship each year of her career and to a league title as a senior. Arnold also earned four varsity letters as a javelin thrower and was a three-time league medalist and two-time district medalist. She's a high honor roll student and member of the Key Club, Varsity Club and Student Council who plans to major in business at Temple. Arnold's sister, Kristin was a two-time All-American in field hockey at West Chester University, while her other sister, Katelyn, was a scholar athlete in field hockey at Lafayette College.

Freeman on Arnold:
"Maddie is physically strong on the ball and tactically understands positioning and danger when in transition to defense. Her ability to close down space and slow the ball carrier is pivotal for our team defense style of play. We're looking forward to having Maddie's skill sets in our defensive end of the field."

As a three-year letterwinner for Central Dauphin High School, Butler scored 13 goals and added three assists for 29 points as a senior in helping lead the team to a 13-6 record and the second round of the district playoffs. She was a 2016 Mid-Penn All-Star and two-time Penn Live Player of the Week as a junior, and was named her team's Offensive

MVP. Butler is an honor student and member of the National Honor Society who plans to major in communications at Temple.

Freeman on Butler:
"Micki's passion for Temple and willingness to put the team first is what we seek out in individuals wanting to represent our University. She has a nice touch on the ball when inside the attacking circle and finds herself in the right place at the right time to finish the play."

Judge, a four-year letterwinner for Cape Henlopen High School, was named all-state as a junior, is a three-time first team all-conference selection and two-time team captain.

Cape Henlopen is 13-2 so far in 2017 and seeded second in the Delaware State Tournament. Judge was named Team MVP as a junior and helped lead Cape Henlopen to a conference title and 14-3 record. She is also a four-year letterwinner in lacrosse and a two-time state champion so far as well as a two-time first team all-state honoree. Judge, who plans to major in education, is an honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society. She is the youngest of three sisters to all play a Division I sport, with sisters Caroline and Katherine having played field hockey for Northeastern and lacrosse for Winthrop, respectively.

Freeman on Judge:
"Annie is a smart player and excellent distributer. As a midfielder, she does a strong and consistent job in reading the developing play and putting herself in position of support. She is a catalyst when generating team attack and she demonstrates discipline when on the defensive side of the ball. "

As a four-year letterwinner and team captain as a senior at Ocean Lakes High School, Lorenz scored 28 goals and added nine assists as a senior, bringing her career total to 103 goals and 36 assists. She is a three-time all-conference honoree and three-time team MVP who also earned second team all-state honors as a sophomore. Lorenz, who

plans to study dentistry, is an honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society and FBLA. She also lettered for four years in soccer, three in track and one in diving at Ocean Lakes.

Freeman on Lorenz:
"Kerrie is a high-caliber athlete who possesses strong attacking skills, is equally talented on her reverse and forehand, and has terrific elimination skills. Kerrie has the potential to be a game-changer and her impact will be positively felt upon her arrival."

Coming from Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, Oerlemans attended the Centre for Sports and Education in Zwolle and played for Apeldoornse MHC (Mixed Hockey Club) 1st klasse.

She was named "Man of the Match" twice in her first eight games in her final year, and was Player of the Year in 2016-17 and top scorer on the team with 11 goals in the conference. Her team was champions of the 2nd klasse in 2016-17 and then promoted to 1st klasse. Her mother, Maaike van der Zee, played for the Dutch National Field Hockey Team at the U16, U18 and U21 levels.

Freeman on Oerlemans:
"Nienke comes to Temple with a rich history of athletic success and an eagerness to excel during her time in Philadelphia. She protects the ball well when under pressure, she's efficient with her movement when supporting the play or with the ball, and reads the defense and evolving play at a very high level."

As a four-year varsity starter for Warren Hills High School, Popinko, who plans to major in secondary education, is already a three-time first team all-conference selection. She has scored 53 goals and added 47 assists in her high school career. Her team was conference and section champions in 2017 and is still alive in the state championship. As a

junior, Popinko was named second team all-state, second team all-area and first team All-Northwest Jersey. With the NJ Starz Field Hockey Club, she has earned several gold medals in USAFH-sanctioned events. Popinko is already a three-year varsity starter in lacrosse and plans to play again in the spring. Her sisters Toni and Tori both played collegiate field hockey with Toni at the University of Delaware and Tori at Saint Joseph's.

Freeman on Popinko:
"Tali has great hands, accelerations with the ball, and is a very strong ball handler in tight space. As a forward, we know Tali will demonstrate her skills under pressure and show confidence with the ball in the attacking third of the field as well as find a way to finish. She has a track record of success as a forward which is what we need in 2018."

Thomas is a four-year letterwinner and three-year varsity starter at the Christian Academy of Louisville. She was named all-region as both a junior and senior and was team

captain as a senior. Her team went 22-5-2 in 2017 and won the state championship. Thomas was an all-state selection as a junior and second team all-state as a sophomore. She was also named MVP and to the All-State Tournament Team as a junior after helping lead the team to a 20-6 record and appearance in the state semifinals. Thomas was a USA Futures Level 1 athlete from 2014-17 and participated in the 2016 Junior Olympics. Her father, Lee, is a two-time Ironman and an All-World Athlete in 2016-17. Thomas played prep field hockey with her younger sister, Claudia, and the pair won a state title together.

Freeman on Thomas:
"Her footwork around the ball, strong hockey IQ and ability to make possession passes puts Claire in great position as our first line of attack. She has great technical skills over the ball and her simple yet strong execution of fundamental skills in the backfield is a welcomed addition."

Temple University Athletics

Field Hockey Signs a Strong, Seven-Member Class for 2018

Related News

Related Videos