Field Hockey Future Bright Under Ciufo

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Field Hockey Future Bright Under Ciufo

11.21.19 | Field Hockey

PHILADELPHIA - In the first year of the Susan Ciufo era, the Temple field hockey program made great strides. A two-win team in 2018 and no regular season conference wins since October of 2016, the Owls went 7-10 (2-5 Big East) in a transition year that laid the foundation to success.

The 2019 season highlighted tremendous growth within our program. We really focused on growing proper and strong roots for the future of the program. The commitment put forth by the student-athletes to prioritize their development and investment in the future was the reason that we saw massive improvement from their 2018 season.

head coach Susan Ciufo

Veteran Leadership

> Nine starters returned in 2019, and 83 percent of Temple’s goals last year were scored by returning players.
> Five student-athletes were chosen to make up the Leadership Team for the 2019 season, with three specific roles assigned - Organizational Leader, Unity Leader and Commitment Leader, with two others serving as the Performance Captains and the Owls’ leaders on game day.
> Senior Kathryn Edgar and junior Dani Batze served as the Performance Captains. Edgar served in the role for a second straight year.
>The Unity Leader was senior Cristen Barnett, the Commitment Leader was senior Becky Gerhart, and the Organizational Leader was senior Lucy Reed.

We were fortunate to have a strong group of leaders who identified early on what was necessary to make the change.

head coach Susan Ciufo

Improvement by the Numbers

> The Owls earned five more wins this season than they did in 2018, going 7-10 (2-5 Big East).
> With the 2-1 double overtime victory at Georgetown in October, Temple snapped an 18-game losing streak in conference play. The team earned its second league win of the season with a 3-0 shutout of the Villanova Wildcats.
> Temple conceded 47 fewer goals this season compared to last season, allowing just 26 in 2019. The team also allowed 72 fewer penalty corners. Junior Cristina Carotenuto came up big for the Owls in the cage, recording four shutouts and 70 saves for a .729 save percentage.
> Seven of the team's losses were decided by just one goal, four more than in 2018.
> The Owls finished the season at 56 in RPI, jumping 10 spots from last year's RPI finish. It also marked the first time since 2016 that Temple has finished the season above an RPI of 60.

In terms of progress, we were thrilled to get our first two Big East wins since 2016. In 2018 we conceded 194 defensive penalty corners and in 2019 cut that number dramatically only conceding 122. In 2018 we conceded 73 goals and this season we gave up 26 goals. The statistics alone show our discipline and intent to defend which was one of the primary focuses coming into the 2019 season.

head coach Susan Ciufo

2019 Accolades

> The team's hard work both on and off the pitch were recognized throughout the season, with five Owls earning Big East, Big 5, and Phila Field Hockey honors.
> Redshirt freshman Kerrie Lorenz earned the first honor of the season, being named Big East Offensive Player of the Week following an impressive opening weekend. The nod marked the first time since 2014 that an Owl received the honor.
> Juniors Dani Batze and Cristina Carotenuto both earned Big East Weekly Honor Roll nods.
> Carotenuto and senior Becky Gerhart earned Phila Field Hockey Player of the Week honors, with Lucy Reed earning a Student-Athlete of the Week nod from Phila Field Hockey.
> Batze was named All-Big East Second-Team in the post-season, finishing the season as the team leader in goals, game-winning goals, defensive saves, and shots.

Coming and Going

> The team will lose seven seniors from this year's squad and will welcome seven freshmen to next year's roster.
> Key returners for the Owls include Dani Batze, Cristina Carotenuto, Nienke Oerlemans, and Claire Thomas.
> The seven newcomers will each bring a different skill set to the team, both on and off the field, with the 2020 Signing Class being comprised of players who can all contribute to the attacking side of the ball.

We have our entire defense returning in 2020 and are excited about the incoming class. We have a lot of returning student-athletes who continue to develop in their ability to build up the ball to create attacking opportunities!

head coach Susan Ciufo