Field Hockey maintains ranking, Youtz named offensive player of the week

Temple maintained the No. 17 ranking with one game left in the regular season schedule.

This week’s Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll has the Owls holding on to the same position they held last week.

Temple won both of its games last weekend, defeating Georgetown on Friday 5-1 in the last home game of the year and then Lafayette on the road 3-2 on Sunday.

The Owls will travel to No. 8 Connecticut on Saturday to wrap up the regular season.

Connecticut was ranked No. 4 last week, but a 5-0 loss to now No. 5 Old Dominion brought the Huskies back in the rankings.

After the regular season ends, Temple will prepare for the Big East Tournament, which begins on Nov. 8 and is also in Connecticut.

Along with Temple, Connecticut, Old Dominion and No. 14 Louisville have also clinched their spots in a postseason tournament where the top-four teams make it in.

Junior forward Amber Youtz has been named Big East Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Youtz scored two goals and an assist in Friday’s 5-1 win over Georgetown.

The assist, which came late in the second half on a goal by freshman forward Katie Foran, was good for the 100th point of her career.

Youtz wasn’t done for the weekend either, as she added a goal and another assist in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Lafayette.

She scored just under 14 minutes into the first half when Temple was down 2-0, which ended up sparking a rally of three unanswered goals en route to a win.

Youtz is averaging 1.14 goals per game and 2.79 points per game. Both averages are the best in the nation.

Her 103 points is tied with teammate Bridget Settles (2008-11) for fifth all-time in points for the program.

Youtz is also seventh all-time in goals with 42, three goals behind Settles in sixth, who has 45.

Although she missed four games due to injury, Youtz leads the team in scoring this season with 16 goals and seven assists for 39 points. Her 16 goals also lead the Big East.