Field Hockey Looks to Continue Momentum in 2021

Photo by: Richie Raspa

Field Hockey Looks to Continue Momentum in 2021

8.24.21 | Field Hockey

PHILADELPHIA - After seeing one of the best seasons in recent years, the Temple field hockey team will look to build on the momentum of the spring 2021 season. The Owls return a wealth of experience and several starters despite losing a few key players and have welcomed seven newcomers to a roster hungry to build upon the improvements of the last two seasons.

"We're really excited to get back on the pitch after coming off a really good ending in the spring," interim head coach Michelle Vittese said. "Even though we have a lot of great returners, we lost some key players so we'll feel the impact of that but our incoming class has filled in really well. This is the fittest we've been as a unit in the last few seasons, and a lot of our ladies invested in themselves, their fitness, and their development over the summer. The team has set the tone early and we're working on some gameplay pieces to make sure we gel as a unit as fast as possible. So far, we're seeing the growth that we've been building on in the last few years so now we have to focus on game one."

The 2020 season was difficult for programs around the country, with many conferences moving the traditional fall slate to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Temple rose to the challenge of an atypical year, going 8-10 (4-8 BIG EAST) and earning its first BIG EAST Tournament berth since 2016 after doubling its conference win total from 2019.

"As a group, we've done goal-setting in terms of both performance goals and some smaller goals that we need to see regularly to do what we want to do this year," Vittese said. "Coming off of last year's season, everyone is really hungry and they want to set the tone early on. We're going to continue to build on where we're at now and refine some areas that we need to in order to finish well. A key performance indicator for us will be carving our way into the circle and being able to clinically finish, and if we can do that then we can start to put some games away."

The team will be led by two pillars of the Leadership Team, with Nienke Oerlemans and Claire Thomas serving as the On-Field Captains. The pair will also be part of the larger Leadership Team, with Annie Judge, Grace Shanton, and McKenna Burkhardt rounding out the group.

Oerlemans will return for her senior season on North Broad, earning a Preseason All-Conference nod. Oerlemans tied for a team-leading four goals in the spring and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors and Second-Team Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors. Redshirt junior Kerrie Lorenz will also return to the pitch, scoring two goals and recording three assists in 2019.

Sophomores Kaitlyn Cummins and Myrthe Schuilenburg had impressive rookie seasons, each scoring a goal and being named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Cummins was also named Second-Team All-Conference and to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.

"We lost a key player in Veronika Novakova as our center-mid," said Vittese. " She acted as our spine and really held up the unit, and Kaitlyn Cummins will look to fill that pivotal role after a high-performing freshman season. In the cage we lost Cristina Carotenuto, but we have Molly Frey, Ashley Cogger, and graduate transfer Megan Ragusa who are fighting to win the starting spot. We have Claire Thomas, Annie Judge, and Kerrie Lorenz returning along with athletes who saw significant minutes and had a huge impact on our game, so we're excited to see them come back."

Seven newcomers will suit up in Cherry and White for the first time, with five suiting up for their first collegiate field hockey season. UNC-Chapel Hill transfer Megan Ragusa and Lafayette transfer Grace Angelella will each bring four years of experience to Philadelphia, while freshmen such as Julianne Kopec, Julia Bunch, and Devin Kinzel will each look to transform a solid preseason performance into a breakout freshman year.

"We are really passionate about this incoming class," Vittese said. "They are really matching our expectations and impacting our game in a positive way. This group should see significant minutes this fall."

Temple was picked to finish fourth in the conference, with the top four teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the conference tournament. The Cherry and White will open its 2021 slate with a pair of games in Philadelphia, hosting Merrimack on Aug. 27 before heading across town to face Drexel on Aug. 28.