Lacrosse Ready For 2021 Campaign

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Lacrosse Ready For 2021 Campaign

2.18.21 | Women's Lacrosse

PHILADELPHIA – With the 2021 lacrosse season nearly here, the Temple lacrosse team is set for an exciting campaign. Last season, the Owls went 5-4 before the season was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. The team will return roughly half of its 2020 starting lineup, with nine newcomers ready for their first season representing the Cherry and White.

"I'm really excited to see what we can do this weekend, that's kind of where it starts," head coach Bonnie Rosen said. " What I'm really enjoying is how quickly we are learning as a team. I think the sky is the limit in terms of what we can accomplish this year."

Veterans Lead the Owls
Temple will return several of last season's top contributors. Out of the six Owls that scored points in double-digits, five return. Last season Coach Rosen used a unique style that saw every healthy player on the roster see game-time. Because of this, 23 players on the Temple roster have at least five games of NCAA experience.

"While we only got part of the season in, we committed to a playing style where everybody who was healthy saw playing time every game," Rosen said. "So we are much more experienced than we could be, maybe more than a traditional team would be because everybody was on the field getting game experience every game unless they were injured."

Meghan Hoffman returns to Howarth Field for her fifth season after being granted an extra year of eligibility due to her senior year being shorted by the pandemic. Hoffman saw action in all nine games last season with eight starts, leading the team in both points (26) and assists (12). She ranked seventh in the conference in assists per game (1.25) and was named to the All AAC-Academic Team.

Kara Nakrasius also returns for her fifth season, using the same NCAA waiver as Hoffman. Last season Nakrasius led the team in draw controls (47), setting the program record, and tied for the lead in ground balls. She is set to lead the Temple defense alongside senior Courtney Taylor.

Temple had four players earn Preseason All-Conference honors, with Hoffman, Taylor, Bella Mastropietro, and Bridget Whitaker all being tabbed.

Attack
Hoffman leads an experienced attack group. Riley McGowan played well as a freshman last season, highlighted by a five-goal outburst against #5 Princeton. Abigail Ryan returns for her third season with the Owls, earning four points last year. An excellent on the field presence, Ryan is known for keeping cool on the field.

Julie Schickling is a player unafraid to do the dirty work. As a freshman, she scored two goals, picked up two ground balls, and caused two turnovers. Freshmen Katie Flynn will add even more scoring punch to the group, in her junior year of high school she broke the Freedom HS goal and point records.

"I think we cover the field well, I think we've got good speed and returning firepower," Rosen said. "They are self-motivated, and they support each other a ton. They are learning like sponges, they are competitive, they are team-first people, and they are smart. I am really impressed by the mentality this group has brought to our team."

Midfield
The midfield looks to be one of the strongest groups on the Owls this season. Mastropietro, Jen Rodzewich, Whitaker, Gabrielle Kirsch, and Charessa Crosse all return to the field after scoring multiple goals last season, with three of the top goal scorers from last season in this group.

Margot Hotham has a quickness that she can parley into turnovers for the Owls. Jackie Cerchio is a strong passer that will look to facilitate in the midfield. Maeve Tobin is a do-it-all player with a diverse skill set. Lauren Zinkl is a tough player who can be a defensive force. Lydia Hetznecker enters her final season with Temple with lightning-quick speed and three years of experience to draw from.

Of the eight freshmen on this team, six are in the midfield, making this position group by the far the youngest on the roster. Camryn Zavacky is an explosive offensive weapon. Mia Cianco brings creativity and craftiness to the team. Maddie Barber also played basketball and soccer in high school, giving her some of the best footwork on the roster.

Hannah Schrader is a dynamic player set to make an impact. Taylor Moncman brings an elite scoring skill set.

"They're just a really well-rounded group of people in every aspect from their game playing ability, their personality, their academic interests," Rosen said. "They really kind of cover all the aspects for the team. They can play different roles at different points during the season."

Defense
The defense looks to be the most experienced group on the roster this season, with the backline is led by Nakrasius alongside Taylor. Both are very experienced players that have earned accolades in Cherry and White.

Kessina Heyn started all nine games last season and picked up nine ground balls. Valerie Cradler played in eight games and was an impact player for the Owls off the bench. The lone freshman in the group, Katie Shallow, was a champion in three different sports in high school. Her diverse skill set promises a bright future with the Owls.

"I think we've got a smart defense," Rosen said. "They are certainly making an impact in practice every day to get us better. I expect we will see them making an impact on the field for us on game day in a lot of different roles throughout the year."

In The Net
This season sees the departure of four-year starting goalkeeper Maryn Lowell, leaving Temple with the sixth most saves in program history. Replacing her in the net are two returning keepers who saw significant playing time last season in senior Olivia Martin and sophomore Eryn Beal. Beal impressed last season as a freshman. The Maryland native had the lowest goals against average (8.27) and the highest save percentage (.500) on the team.

The Owls also add Sacred Heart transfer Shana Hecht to the rotation. Hecht had a strong 2020 season with Pioneers, starting 12 games and winning the Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Week twice. She earned a save percentage of .422 and racked up 103 saves.

"I think we've got strong goalkeeping," Rosen said "That is the most difficult position on the field by far and we have three great options. We're not afraid to keep the people on the field or to change it up."

Leadership
With two fifth-year players and six seniors, the Owls have no shortage of leaders this season. Rosen expects to see strong leadership throughout the team, but especially from her two fifth-year veterans.

" We are really fortunate to have Meghan and Kara back. Kara is now a five-year captain, which is really impressive. And Meghan anchored our offense last year and has been such an integral player to our program. So it's immeasurable what they bring to the program," Rosen said.

Unique Schedule
This season will see Temple lacrosse with a near-full schedule, a rarity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will play five home games, including three Philadelphia rivals, hosting Villanova, Drexel, and Penn. However, this season will also be different than years due to the program playing in five sets of weekend doubleheaders against AAC opponents. Rosen and the team are excited to the play in such an atypical circumstance.

"It is actually a really unique experience for me. Not playing two games on a weekend, we've done that in years past, but the fact we are going to play the same opponent twice. It's kind of fun to have something novel for both me and our players," Rosen said. "It's exciting to get a shot at a team two times, and we all know it's hard to beat someone twice."

A New Start in 2021
Last season saw Temple lacrosse return to its winning ways (5-4) after a down 2019 season. The team is excited to return to the field but is also prepared to embrace a season that will look different than any season the lacrosse world has faced before.

"I think the key to a successful season, and I mean that both in score and record as well as experience and the way the team comes together, is in recognizing how to be adaptable, responding to adversity, and to take pride and enjoyment in that process," Rosen said. "This team, personality-wise, I think has a unique blend of knowing how to be intense and also knowing how to laugh. I think that is certainly going to help us down the stretch and allow us to really enjoy the season together."

The season begins on Feb. 20 as Temple travels to Delaware.