Oerlemans Named Preseason All-Conference; Owls Picked to Finish Fourth

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Temple field hockey senior Nienke Oerlemans has been named to the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the league on Thursday. In addition to the All-Conference Team nod, the Owls were picked to finish fourth in the league.

Oerlemans was outstanding last season, tying for a team-leading four goals including two against Liberty on April 3. The Apeldoorn, Netherlands native led the Cherry and White backline and split penalty corner inserting duties with Veronika Novakova.

The senior fired seven shots with six on target for a .857 shots on goal percentage and recorded the team's only defensive save of the season. Oerlemans was named Second Team All-Conference and Second Team Mid-Atlantic All-Region for her efforts.

Temple has been chosen to finish fourth in the BIG EAST standings, one spot higher than last season's projected finish. The Owls earned a fourth-place finish after the 2021 spring season, qualifying for the conference tournament for the first time since 2016.

The Cherry and White will look to build on the strides made in the last two seasons, welcoming seven freshmen and two graduate transfers to a team that will return nearly all of its starters. The Owls will open its 2021 campaign on Aug. 27 against Merrimack at Howarth Field.

Preseason All-Conference *
Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, Liberty, So., GK
Kourtney Kennedy, UConn, Sr., B
Claire Jandewerth, UConn, So., B
Jodie Conolly, Liberty, Jr., B
Nienke Oerlemans, Temple, Sr., B
Abby Gooderham, UConn, Sr., M ^
Delphine Le Jeune, Old Dominion, Jr., M ^
Nora Goddard-Despot, Providence, Jr., M
Jess Dembrowski, UConn, Sr., F
Jill Bolton, Liberty, Sr., F ^
Daniella Rhodes, Liberty, Jr., F
Marlon de Bruijne, Old Dominion, So., F

* There are 12 members of the preseason All-BIG EAST team due to a tie in voting
^ indicates a unanimous selection

BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ()

1. Connecticut (4)	46
2. Liberty (4)	45
3. Old Dominion	38
4. Temple	31
5. Providence	22
6. Villanova	20
7. Quinnipiac	15
8. Georgetown	7

Temple University Athletics

Oerlemans Named Preseason All-Conference; Owls Picked to Finish Fourth

Players Mentioned

Veronika Novakova

Nienke Oerlemans

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