Field Hockey to Open League Play

PHILADELPHIA - The Temple field hockey team will open the conference slate this weekend at Quinnipiac, with the Owls looking to continue their success through the first three weekends of play. The Cherry and White will then return to Howarth Field to host Big 5 Rival No. 9 Saint Joseph's.

Scouting Temple
> The Owls swept opening weekend before splitting their second weekend.
> Temple is 3-0 on the road this year, topping Drexel 3-2 before shutting out Hofstra and Fairfield.
> The Cherry and White is off to its best start since 2014.
> Freshmen Julianne Kopec and Tess Muller have emerged as key players early, with Kopec scoring four goals in four games and Muller tying with senior Claire Thomas for the team-lead in assists.
> Graduate transfer Megan Ragusa is a force in the cage, recording 16 of the Owls' 17 saves and posting clean sheets against Merrimack, Hofstra, and Fairfield.
> Ragusa is eighth nationally in GAA (0.75) and is second in the conference in save percentage (0.800). Kopec is 25th in the NCAA and third in the BIG EAST in goals per game, averaging 0.80 on four total goals.
> Ragusa and Kopec have both been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice for impressive performances through the first three weeks of play.

Scouting Quinnipiac
> Quinnipiac is 0-4 on the season, with all of its losses being decided by at least two goals.
> The Bobcats have scored just once this season, with freshman Emilia Massarelli finding the back of the cage against Columbia.
> Sophomore Nina Santore has recorded 17 saves for a 3.27 GAA on the season.

Series History
> This will be the fifth meeting between Quinnipiac and Temple, with the Bobcats holding a 3-1 advantage.
> The Owls are on a three-game skid, topping Quinnipiac just once in the series opener.
> The teams have met every year since 2016, with the exception of the 2020-21 season due to the BIG EAST COVID schedule.

Scouting Saint Joseph's
> Saint Joseph's enters the weekend 4-2, with its only losses coming to top-25 opponents, and will face Penn to open the weekend. The team has also topped two top-10 opponents in No. 4 UNC and No. 8 Rutgers.
> The Hawks have an explosive offense, ranking 10th in the nation with goals per game (3.5) and scoring average (3.4).
> Freke van Tilburg is fourth in the NCAA in goals per game (1.17) named NFHCA National Offensive Player of the Week for her performance last weekend.
> The defensive unit has allowed just 54 shots and 34 penalty corners this season, with goalie Robin Bleekemolen posting 22 saves and allowing just 12 goals for a 1.95 GAA.

Series History
> This will be the 29th meeting in series history, with Temple holding a 25-13 advantage.
> The Hawks have won the last three meetings, and the last time the Owls topped Saint Joseph's was a 3-2 win in 2015.
> The teams last met in 2018 at Ellen Ryan Field, with the Cherry and White falling 6-0.

Field Hockey to Open League Play

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Players Mentioned

Julianne Kopec

Tess Muller

Megan Ragusa

Claire Thomas

Temple University Athletics