Temple has fallen back a bit, but they still have a spot in the nation’s top-20.

The latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association Coaches Poll was released today, revealing that the Owls are now ranked No. 14.

Temple (4-2) lost to Delaware 2-0 on Friday night, but bounced right back with a 6-0 shutout of Monmouth the next day.

The University of Albany (5-0) now has the No. 11 spot in the nation. The Owls were ranked No. 11 last week, after a 3-0 shutout of Penn State and a 3-2 win against Richmond in overtime, earning their first national ranking in 12 years.

Conference play begins on Friday, when Temple takes on Villanova.

In its first game as the No. 11 team in the nation, Temple was shutout by Delaware 2-0.

It was a game where the team was “one step behind,” according to coach Amanda Janney, and one where the Owls didn’t start making a push until the very end.

“We waited until the last minute to start to play hard and push,” Janney said following Friday night’s loss.  “Our team did a really good job to take over the game by the end, but by then it was too late. We learned and tomorrow we need to come out right away.”

Tomorrow has arrived and the Owls will have a chance to bounce back against Monmouth, a team that has struggled coming out of the gate.

Monmouth has yet to earn a win this season, opening up with an 0-3 record. Heading into Saturday afternoon’s game at Geasey Field, the Hawks have been outscored by opponents 11-4.

Defense and goalkeeping have been strengths for Temple, with the Owls holding their opponents to an average of two goals per game and redshirt junior goalkeeper Lizzy Millen posting a .815 save percentage.

Offense is a bit of a concern, though. Temple has been outshot by its opponents in each game since they beat Ohio State 4-1 on Aug. 31.

The Owls have been able to capitalize on fewer scoring opportunities, but it didn’t work for them on Friday night.

Monmouth is allowing an average of 3.67 goals per game after their first three games, so Saturday could be a good opportunity for the Owls to adjust and start putting on more offensive pressure.

Temple hits the road for the second time this season to play the University of Delaware on Friday night.

A 3-1 record kickstarted the Owls’ season and gave them the No. 11 spot in the national rankings, but Delaware hasn’t been a struggling team either.

The Blue Hens have also gotten off to a 3-1 start, beating Ohio, Central Michigan and Lafayette in three of their first four games. Their one loss came from a 2-1 defeat in overtime to Boston University on Sept. 2.

Defense has been one of Temple’s greatest strengths in a still very young season, holding their opponents to an average of two goals per game.

The case appears to be the same for Delaware as well, as they have held opponents to an average of 1.75 goals per game.

Delaware has senior Sarah Scher in goal, who has made 17 saves, with a 1.73 goals against average and a .708 save percentage so far this season.

Her save percentage is lower than redshirt junior goalkeeper and co-captain Lizzy Millen’s, but Millen has made over twice as many saves.

After stopping 35 shots, Millen has a 1.99 goals against average and the ninth best save percentage in the nation with .814.

Millen has been doing a great job as Temple’s last line of defense and will need to keep it up in order to help the Owls continue to succeed.

On the offense, senior midfielder/defender and co-captain Molly Doyle and junior forward Amber Youtz are tied for the team lead in points. Both of them have 10 points, four goals and two assists.

Doyle has been very effective on penalty corners, scoring all three of her goals from last weekend on penalty corners.

Meanwhile, Youtz has shown no signs of slowing down since leading the team in scoring last season. She has scored in three of the Owls first four games, two of which came last Sunday against Richmond, with the last being the overtime game-winner.

Sophomore midfielder Michaela Patzner leads Delaware with four goals, two assists and 10 points. She scored her last goal against Central Michigan a week ago.

When Temple hits the field tonight they will do so as a nationally ranked team for the first time in 12 years, but right now, it doesn’t look like the Owls will let that be a reason to ease up.

“The team is staying pretty calm about it,” coach Amanda Janney said. “Every day at practice I challenge them with something new to keep them fresh and engaged.”

The season hasn’t even kicked off yet, but Amber Youtz has already collected a Big East accolade.

The junior forward has been named to the Preseason All-Big East Team. She is one of four unanimous selections out of a vote conducted by the conference’s eight head coaches. The coaches were not allowed to vote for athletes on their team.

“We’re really proud of Amber for getting this honor,” head coach Amanda Janney said in a press release. “I’m glad the other Big East coaches recognized her accomplishments from last year, and we’re hoping she makes a name for herself in the new conference.”

Youtz scored 22 goals and 54 total points last season, taking the honor as the Atlantic 10’s Offensive Player of the Year and ranking seventh in goals for all of Division I field hockey.

A preseason poll was also released, which has Temple projected as sixth prior to their first year as an affiliate of the Big East.

Rutgers (fifth), Providence (fourth), Louisville (third), Old Dominion (second) and Connecticut (first) are all projected ahead of Temple, based on the coaches’ poll.

The Owls begin their season on Saturday at Geasey Field, where they will play Ohio State in the 2013 Conference Cup Tournament.

The 2013 field hockey squad has eight incoming freshmen on the roster, and they all have strong backgrounds in field hockey. Here’s a quick look at the Owls’ newest members.

Michelle Walsh (defense/midfield): Walsh started varsity all four years for Archbishop Carroll High School, a team that won four straight district championships. She served as captain of the team in her senior year and also played for the WC Eagles club team outside of school.

Katie Foran (forward): Foran was the offensive MVP for Central Dauphin High School in her senior year with 24 goals and 24 assists. She was named a Mid-Penn All-Star twice in her three years on the varsity team and was named to the Patriot News’ Big-11 in her senior year. Foran also played four years of varsity softball for Central Dauphin and played club field hockey for Key State.

Shawna Chopko (defense/midfield): Chopko was a four-year starter for Newark High School and was team captain for two of them. She was a three-time all-conference selection for Newark and played on the North Bay Crush club team outside of school. Chopko also played three years of varsity lacrosse and track and field for Newark. In 2011, she won the Delaware Women’s Alliance for Sports and Fitness’ Women’s Athlete of Promise Award. She played in the National Futures Championship this summer with teammate Taylor Janney.

Ali Meszaros (defense/midfield): Meszaros played for Phoenixville Area High School where she was named team captain in her senior year. She also ran track and field in high school and was a four-year honor roll student. Meszaros also played club field hockey for WC Eagles.

Paige Gross (midfield):  Gross started four years on the varsity team for Liberty High School. She was named a Lehigh Valley Conference All-Star twice and was named to the conference’s first team in her senior year. Gross’ high school team was the conference champion last season. Gross also played basketball and soccer for Liberty, serving as the soccer team’s captain in her senior year, when she was also named a conference all-star for the sport. Gross played club hockey for True North, who won gold at last year’s National Field Hockey Festival.

Taylor Janney (defense/midfield): Janney, who is a second cousin to head coach Amanda Janney, played three years of varsity field hockey for Cherry Hill High School. She was named Cherry Hill Offensive Player of the Year in her senior season and helped the team to the state tournament in her junior and senior year.  Janney played on the South Jersey Edge club and was involved in the USA Field Hockey Futures Program for four years. She, along with teammate Shawna Chopko, played in the National Futures Championship this summer.

Sarah Keer (midfield/forward): Keer served two years as team captain for Lehighton Area High School. Her school won the state championship in her freshman year and made it back to the finals the next season. Keer was also a member of the school’s track and field team, where she was a two-time conference champion in javelin. For club field hockey, Keer played for First Class for three years and played for the Pyramid Evolution last year.

Elle Hempt (midfield/defense): Hempt was captain of the Cumberland Valley High School team in her senior year and was named to the Mid-Penn All-Star first team in 2011 and 2012. She was also named to the Patriot News’ Big-11 team in 2011 and 2012. Hempt also played club field hockey for East Coast Field Hockey, where she has spent time as team captain over the last three years. Here is a profile on Hempt posted yesterday: http://temple-news.com/sports/2013/08/05/recruiting-spotlight-elle-hempt/.

In a June interview, Janney said she likes what she sees in the new recruits and that she hopes to see them get action on the field this year.

“We have eight very athletic and strong players coming in,” Janney said. “We’re hoping to see a lot of them get playing time early in August and help us out.”