Temple University Athletics
Athletics
The Temple women’s basketball team completed its fairytale season with a No.15 national ranking, a 28-4 record, a 25-game winning streak, which, when broken, was the longest of any women’s or men’s team in the nation, and the respect of women’s basketball fans across the country. The Owls advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history before falling to Rutgers, a team that earlier in the year had given Temple its first victory over a ranked team in 18 years. The team’s performance secured its place in Temple’s record books, setting a new record for most wins in a season, most consecutive wins, a first-ever national ranking and various Liacouras Center and program shooting records. Temple ran through the Atlantic 10 with ease, becoming just the fourth team in A-10 history to go a perfect 16-0 in Conference play and the fifth team to win back-to-back A-10 championships. Fifth-year head coach Dawn Staley was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the second straight year, as well as the Big 5 Coach of the Year for the third time in five years. After leading her team to its best season in school history, Staley also earned a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Regional Coach of the Year Award for Region 1. As if all of that wasn’t enough, Staley became the fastest coach in Temple women’s basketball history to reach the 100 win plateau.
Junior Candice Dupree capped off a memorable season with an Honorable Mention All-American nod after earning virtually every other award that she was nominated for. The 2005 Atlantic 10 and Big 5 Player of the Year and the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Dupree was named to the A-10 and Big 5 First Teams and became just the second player in conference history to earn back-to-back Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament honors.
Sophomore Kamesha Hairston was rewarded with the A-10’s, the Big 5’s and Temple’s Most Improved Player Awards, as well as with spots on the A-10’s and Big 5’s Second Teams and the A-10’s All-Defensive Team. Senior Cynthia Jordan was selected to both the A-10 and the Big 5’s First Teams and fellow senior Ari Moore earned a spot on the A-10 All-Tournament Team and the Big Five’s Second Team.
Men’s Gymnastics
Senior Nyika White, a two-time All-American on still rings, finished tenth in the event at the 2005 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships. He entered the Championships as the top-ranked collegiate gymnast on the apparatus. White captured the nation’s top ranking after winning the 2005 ECAC-EIGL rings crown. Fellow upperclassman David Ramos earned the 2005 league championship on high bar and Luke Vexler was named the ECAC-EIGL Rookie of the Year.
Golf
Under the direction of first-year head coach Brian Rogers, the team captured its second consecutive title at the Scotty Duncan Spring Memorial and finished fourth or better in three tournaments during the 2004-05 season. Senior captain Billy Mullen, one of the top-ranked players in the Mid-Atlantic Region, carded a two under par 140 (70-70) to win the individual crown at the Navy Spring Invitational. He finished among the top 10 in five tournaments during the season and had a 74.6 stroke average. Sophomore Logan Terry was named to Atlantic 10 Conference All-Academic Men’s Golf Team.
Men’s Soccer
Two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Hannigan led the Owls to their second straight conference final, but the team fell to host George Washington, 2-0, in the title game. The senior goalkeeper, who compiled 30 wins and 20 shutouts during his career, became the first Temple player ever selected in the MLS Draft. Temple, which finished with a 12-8-2 record, had four players, Hannigan (1st team), junior Joe Brocker (2nd team), junior Tony Donatelli (3rd team) and senior Steven Wacker (3rd team), earn all-region honors. It was Brocker’s second straight all-region honor. Temple was named Soccer Seven Team of the Year while head coach David MacWilliams earned Coach of the Year honors and Hannigan garnered Player of the Year honors. Donatelli, a first team selection, led the Soccer Seven in scoring (six goals, nine assists). Wacker, the Soccer Seven Academic Player of the Year and a second team Academic All-America selection, capped his career by being named the Temple University Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Women’s Tennis
Junior Ana Maslesa capped a fine season under the direction of first-year women’s tennis coach Traci Green with a Top 20 regional ranking. A first team all-Atlantic 10 Conference selection, Maslesa, who entered the spring ranked #26 in the East, moved up six spots to finish the year at #20. The Split, Croatia native posted a 14-10 record at #1 singles and has a 42-22 career singles record. Temple finished fourth in the A-10 under Green.
Men’s Basketball
Head coach John Chaney and the Temple men’s basketball team extended their string of consecutive postseason appearances to 22 with an invitation to the NIT. Junior point guard Mardy Collins led the Owls, earning first team all-district, all-Atlantic 10 and all-Big 5 honors. Along the way, Chaney reached another milestone, coaching in his 1,000th game, a 48-46 win over Princeton on December 20, 2004. The Owls, who played one of the nation’s toughest schedules, finished the season 16-14 overall and in second place in the A-10 East Division with an 11-5 record.
Women’s Lacrosse
Temple, which captured its seventh straight A-10 regular season title, finished the season with a 10-7 overall record and a 6-1 mark in A-10 play under first year head coach Jenny Ulehla. The Owls posted big wins over then #2 Penn State and Old Dominion to earn their first national ranking in three seasons, a rank that climbed as high as #16. The team ended the season with a four-game winning streak to clinch the top seed in the A-10 Championships but suffered a tough 11-10 loss to Richmond in the semifinal round. Freshman Whitney Richards and sophomores Casey Cech and Patty Glavin led the offensive charge and were voted to the A-10’s All-Tournament Team. Allison Frengs, who led the team in scoring, garnered Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year honors as well as a spot on the conference’s first team. Frengs and Glavin were named Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Regional All-Americans, marking the first time that an Owl has earned All-American distinction since the 2000 season. Megan McLouth joined Frengs and Glavin on the all-conference team. Temple was just as successful in the classroom, as junior Nicole Cataldo was recognized by the IWLCA as a member of the 2005 National Honor Roll.
Women’s Track
Under the direction of first-year head coach Stefanie Scalessa, the Temple women’s track team placed fifth at both the Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. The performance was a marked improvement from the year before, in which TU placed seventh and eighth. Senior Rachel Clinton won the 55m hurdles at the A-10 Indoor Championship, giving her five conference hurdle titles during her illustrious career. She was just as impressive in the classroom, earning Temple Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors along with CoSIDA Academic All-District and Academic All-Atlantic 10 citations. Fellow senior Jessica Dunston won her second outdoor 100m hurdles championship in the past three years and sophomore Tynisha Gardner won the 400m both indoors and outdoors.
