Owls Prepare for UConn, Lock Haven in Home Weekend Slate

PHILADELPHIA – Following an impressive 3-0 road win over Quinnipiac on Friday, the Temple University field hockey team returns home to Howarth Field this weekend for a pair of contests against UConn and Lock Haven.

The Owls (9-2, 2-1 BE) battle UConn (5-5, 2-1 BE) in a rematch of the 2024 BIG EAST Championship on Friday at 3 p.m., and close out the weekend against in-state foe Lock Haven (0-11, 0-3 A10) in nonconference action on Sunday at noon.

Game 12 | UConn (5-5, 2-1 BE)
Friday, Oct. 10 — 3 p.m.
Location: Temple Sports Complex — Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats: StatBroadcast | International Stream

Game 13 | Lock Haven (0-11, 0-3 A10)
Sunday, Oct. 12 — 12 p.m.
Location: Temple Sports Complex — Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats: StatBroadcast | International Stream

Social Media
Twitter/X: @TempleFH | Instagram: @templefieldhockey

Scouting Temple

The Owls seek their 10th win after posting their ninth in a 3-0 shutout of Quinnipiac in their lone contest last week in Connecticut. Temple's balanced offense continued, with three different goal scorers in Lonneke Kerkhof, Kathryn Gauvin and Peyton Rieger.

Rieger was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after recording a goal and an assist against the Bobcats. Among BIG EAST leaders, she ranks tied for second in goals, fifth in assists and fourth in points. She has now been recognized by the conference three times this season, including two BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Goalkeeper Alex Lepore posted her third shutout of the season against Quinnipiac, making four saves. She lowered her goals-against average to 1.51 (fourth in the BIG EAST) and raised her save percentage to .683 (seventh).

The Owls look to start 10-2 for the first time since 1984. That season, Temple dropped its opener to Northwestern before reeling off 10 consecutive victories. The Owls also began 10-2 in 1982. Their best start through 12 games came in 1981, when they went 10-0-2 in an undefeated stretch.

BIG EAST Standings (as of Oct. 9)

School	W-L	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
Liberty	3-0	1.000	9-1	.900
Temple	2-1	.667	9-2	.818
UConn	2-1	.667	5-5	.500
Old Dominion	2-1	.667	4-7	.364
Villanova	2-1	.667	4-7	.364
Providence	1-2	.333	7-4	.636
Quinnipiac	0-3	.000	6-5	.545
Georgetown	0-3	.000	3-8	.273

Scouting UConn

The Huskies enter Friday at 5-5, earning a conference win against Providence last week along with a 2-1 triumph over No. 14 UMass. Their lone league loss came in a 2-1 decision against No. 5 Liberty on Sept. 26. UConn is battle-tested, currently owning the third-toughest schedule in the country. All five losses have come against nationally ranked opponents.

UConn is led offensively by Julia Bressler, who has five goals and 10 points this season. The attack is supported by Sol Simone (2G, 5A, 9 points), Pien Prins (3G, 1A) and Lene Bunjes.

Goalkeeper Natalie McKenna has started all 10 contests, posting a 1.95 goals-against average and a .697 save percentage. The New York native has allowed three goals or fewer in nine of 10 games.

All-Time Series vs. UConn

The Owls and Huskies meet for the 24th time Friday in a matchup featuring last year's BIG EAST finalists.

UConn leads the series 17-5-1, earning wins in both meetings last season. Temple seeks its second straight win in Philadelphia after earning a 1-0 victory in 2023, the last time the Huskies visited the Temple Sports Complex.

Scouting Lock Haven

The Bald Eagles (0-11) visit the City of Brotherly Love for a pair of games, first facing La Salle on Friday at Saint Joseph's Ellen Ryan Field. They look to snap a 12-game losing streak against the Explorers.

Melanie Beall (2G), Paula Sigley (2G) and Madison Friend (1G, 2A) pace the offense with four points each.

Goalkeeper Kelsey Felix leads the nation in saves per game, averaging 10.27 stops.

All-Time Series vs. Lock Haven

Temple holds a 6-3-1 all-time record against the Bald Eagles, with the first meeting dating to 1978.

The Owls have won three straight in the series, earning victories in 2024 (6-0), 2022 (4-0) and 2012 (4-3 OT). Lock Haven's last win came in a 2-1 decision in Central Pennsylvania.