Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Tommy Meehan
2018 Lacrosse Preview; Owls Open at Home vs. Rutgers on Saturday
2.6.18 | Women's Lacrosse
PHILADELPHIA - With a roster fueled by underclassmen, the 2018 Temple lacrosse team is eager to prove itself on the field once again in its last season playing in the BIG EAST Conference. After earning their first-ever BIG EAST Conference Tournament bid in 2016 and carrying over that success into the 2017 season with an appearance in the semifinals, expectations are high for the Owls in 2018.
Seven seniors from the 2017 team graduated after impressive tenures. The team finished 13-5 overall and went 6-3 in the conference, earning the league's fourth seed and finishing the season in the BIG EAST semifinals with a loss to #2 Florida. The team's 13-2 start tied the 1997 squad for the best ever start to a season, and the Owls' 13 total wins tied the 2016 team for the most wins since 2008.
Much like last year, Temple remains a young squad with eight true freshmen along with 12 sophomores while boasting just three juniors and six seniors.Â
"I'm expecting in the early season we'll see a lot of errors in decision-making, some nerves and having to learn how to play games fully and dealing with lineups and scouting reports," said head coach Bonnie Rosen, now in her 12th season. "Really, the key is that we expect we are not perfect, and we need to stay really focused on our mentality of being willing to work hard, communicate and be more mentally and physically tough than our opponents. I think one thing this team has learned over the past couple years is that if you can just stay present and stay in the game, you just need to win it in the end. It's great to take out huge leads but if you can keep the game close, you can find a way to win."
In the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches Poll, the Owls were selected to finish fourth of 10 teams, while senior tri-captain Nicole Latgis was unanimously selected to the BIG EAST Preseason Team.Â
Serving as the 2018 tri-captains, Latgis, fellow senior Kira Gensler and sophomore Kara Nakrasius are ready to lead the team to success. Gensler is returning as an attacker, while Latgis and Nakrasius are looking to protect the backfield in defensive and midfield roles. The tri-captains were voted to the roles by their teammates.Â
With the top four scorers graduating, the Owls are looking for newcomers to step into attacking roles.
Returning to generate the attack are senior Nicole Barretta and junior Amber Lambeth. Both Barretta and Lambeth scored 21 goals last year to tie for fifth on the team, and both played in all 18 games for the Owls. Barretta recorded 10 draw controls and scored a career-high five goals in the Owls' overtime win vs. conference rival Marquette, while Lambeth tallied 24 ground balls and scored a career-high of four goals on three separate occasions vs. Rutgers, Monmouth and Lafayette.
"We have some veterans with a lot of game experience," commented Rosen. "Our senior captains Nicole (Latgis) and Kira have that, and Nicole (Barretta) and Amber have seen a ton of playing time on the offensive end. Our goalkeepers Maryn Lowell and Kelsea Hershey have both been on the field. Our sophomore captain Kara (Nakrasius) played nearly every minute last year. Haile Houck has seen a lot of action as well. Early on in the season, we're hoping our game-experienced people are a little bit more seasoned to weather what happens. But this team is talented right through our freshman class. So we are looking to inexperience and excitement to make a difference. We're looking for impact everywhere."Â
Latgis and Nakrasius are looking to continue anchoring the defense for Temple in 2018. Latgis was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last season after starting in all 18 games and being one of the Owls' key markers of top attackers on other teams. Nakrasius ended her freshman debut starting in all 18 games with 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.Â
Both Hershey, a redshirt sophomore, and Lowell, a true sophomore, are serving as veterans in goal in the 2018 season. Hershey played in 10 games and earned four starts before suffering an ankle injury. During her time in goal, she recorded 33 saves and four ground balls. Lowell stepped into the goal during her freshman campaign playing in 18 games, recording 14 starts and tallying 144 saves. With her strong performance in goal, she was named BIG EAST Player of the Week, and with 6.89 saves per game she ranked sixth in the BIG EAST Conference.Â
The BIG EAST Tournament will be held at Florida on May 3 and 5, featuring four of the league's 10 teams. The Owls lost to the Gators in the BIG EAST Final in 2016, and in the BIG EAST Semifinals in 2017.
"The key to the season is to start with game one and build from there," said Rosen. "So while we have goals for conference play, that's still a ways off and we need to build our game throughout the non-conference season. Starting with Rutgers, it's not just about conference play. We're trying to make our mark nationally and give ourselves a chance at both an at-large bid as well as trying to get the automatic bid."
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Seven seniors from the 2017 team graduated after impressive tenures. The team finished 13-5 overall and went 6-3 in the conference, earning the league's fourth seed and finishing the season in the BIG EAST semifinals with a loss to #2 Florida. The team's 13-2 start tied the 1997 squad for the best ever start to a season, and the Owls' 13 total wins tied the 2016 team for the most wins since 2008.
Much like last year, Temple remains a young squad with eight true freshmen along with 12 sophomores while boasting just three juniors and six seniors.Â
"I'm expecting in the early season we'll see a lot of errors in decision-making, some nerves and having to learn how to play games fully and dealing with lineups and scouting reports," said head coach Bonnie Rosen, now in her 12th season. "Really, the key is that we expect we are not perfect, and we need to stay really focused on our mentality of being willing to work hard, communicate and be more mentally and physically tough than our opponents. I think one thing this team has learned over the past couple years is that if you can just stay present and stay in the game, you just need to win it in the end. It's great to take out huge leads but if you can keep the game close, you can find a way to win."
In the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches Poll, the Owls were selected to finish fourth of 10 teams, while senior tri-captain Nicole Latgis was unanimously selected to the BIG EAST Preseason Team.Â
Serving as the 2018 tri-captains, Latgis, fellow senior Kira Gensler and sophomore Kara Nakrasius are ready to lead the team to success. Gensler is returning as an attacker, while Latgis and Nakrasius are looking to protect the backfield in defensive and midfield roles. The tri-captains were voted to the roles by their teammates.Â
With the top four scorers graduating, the Owls are looking for newcomers to step into attacking roles.
Returning to generate the attack are senior Nicole Barretta and junior Amber Lambeth. Both Barretta and Lambeth scored 21 goals last year to tie for fifth on the team, and both played in all 18 games for the Owls. Barretta recorded 10 draw controls and scored a career-high five goals in the Owls' overtime win vs. conference rival Marquette, while Lambeth tallied 24 ground balls and scored a career-high of four goals on three separate occasions vs. Rutgers, Monmouth and Lafayette.
"We have some veterans with a lot of game experience," commented Rosen. "Our senior captains Nicole (Latgis) and Kira have that, and Nicole (Barretta) and Amber have seen a ton of playing time on the offensive end. Our goalkeepers Maryn Lowell and Kelsea Hershey have both been on the field. Our sophomore captain Kara (Nakrasius) played nearly every minute last year. Haile Houck has seen a lot of action as well. Early on in the season, we're hoping our game-experienced people are a little bit more seasoned to weather what happens. But this team is talented right through our freshman class. So we are looking to inexperience and excitement to make a difference. We're looking for impact everywhere."Â
Latgis and Nakrasius are looking to continue anchoring the defense for Temple in 2018. Latgis was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last season after starting in all 18 games and being one of the Owls' key markers of top attackers on other teams. Nakrasius ended her freshman debut starting in all 18 games with 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.Â
Both Hershey, a redshirt sophomore, and Lowell, a true sophomore, are serving as veterans in goal in the 2018 season. Hershey played in 10 games and earned four starts before suffering an ankle injury. During her time in goal, she recorded 33 saves and four ground balls. Lowell stepped into the goal during her freshman campaign playing in 18 games, recording 14 starts and tallying 144 saves. With her strong performance in goal, she was named BIG EAST Player of the Week, and with 6.89 saves per game she ranked sixth in the BIG EAST Conference.Â
The BIG EAST Tournament will be held at Florida on May 3 and 5, featuring four of the league's 10 teams. The Owls lost to the Gators in the BIG EAST Final in 2016, and in the BIG EAST Semifinals in 2017.
"The key to the season is to start with game one and build from there," said Rosen. "So while we have goals for conference play, that's still a ways off and we need to build our game throughout the non-conference season. Starting with Rutgers, it's not just about conference play. We're trying to make our mark nationally and give ourselves a chance at both an at-large bid as well as trying to get the automatic bid."
Players Mentioned
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