The field hockey team’s season came to an end today when the Owls lost to Massachusetts in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championships by a final score of 5-2.

Massachusetts was able to get many different players involved in the game, with four different players scoring their five goals.

This was Temple second loss to the Minutewomen this year, after losing last weekend 4-1.

The Owls jumped out to an early lead behind a goal from senior forward Katie Briglia. It was Briglia’s seventh goal of the year and it came off a penalty corner set up by junior defender Mandi Shearer.

Massachusetts responded in the 15th minute with sophomore midfielder Renee Suter scoring a goal off a pass from junior forward Alyssa Ineson.

In the 20th minute, senior defender Thando Zono began to take over. The South African native scored a goal on a penalty corner, putting the Massachusetts lead up to 2-1.

Five minutes later, senior midfielder Kim Young took a pass from Zono into the circle and scored, giving the Minutewomen a 3-1 lead that they carried into the half.

Sophomore forward Amber Youtz helped to narrow the two point gap by taking a pass from Shearer and scoring a goal early in the second half.

Only minutes after Youtz’s goal, it looked as though the Owls had tied the game 3-3. Temple crowded the circle with an attack, and a shot ricocheted in.

But shortly after, the officials ruled the ball bounced off sophomore midfielder Nicole Kroener’s foot before crossing the line.

After the disallowed goal the Minutewomen scored quickly, squashing any momentum Temple had and widening the margin to two.

Senior forward Nicole Cordero scored after save by sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy Millen bounced off her and onto the stick of Cordero, who tipped it into the cage for a 4-2 UMass lead in the 49th minute.

With a two-point lead, the Minutewomen never looked back. Zono capped off the game, scoring her second goal of the game off a penalty corner.

Massachusetts advances to the A-10 final against top-seeded Richmond.

-Colin Tansits

As the Atlantic 10 Conference handed out field hockey awards today before the conference playoffs, Temple had four players honored.

Senior midfielder Katie Briglia earned her third A-10 First Team Honor, and freshmen forward Alyssa Delp and midfielder Taylor Schronk earned A-10 All Rookie Honors.

But headlining it all was sophomore forward Amber Youtz.

Youtz received the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Award, along with being named to the A-10 First Team.

The sophomore ranks among the nation’s leaders in both goals and points. Her team and league-best 21 goals ranks sixth in NCAA Division I with 1.05 goals per game, and her team and league-best 52 total points rank seventh in the nation with 2.60 points per game.

Youtz is tied for fifth all-time at Temple for goals in a single season, and is tied for sixth all-time in points in a season.

Along with the on the field accolades, Briglia was selected to the A-10 All Academic Team. She is majoring in broadcasting, telecommunications and mass media, and has a 3.68 grade point average.

By the Numbers:

21 – Youtz’s 21 goals are the most scored by a Temple player in a single season since Caroline McWilliams in 1980.

52 – Youtz’s 52 points are tied for fifth in Temple’s all time rankings for a single season. The last time a player scored 52 points for the Owls was in 1991.

11 – Briglia currently has 11 assists on this season and is one assist away from being tied for seventh in Temple’s all time rankings for assists for one season.

16 – Youtz is only 16 points away from cracking Temple’s Top 10 all time scorers list.

-Colin Tansits

After scoring a goal in a winning effort during her last home game at Geasey Field, Katie Briglia’s week just got better.

The senior midfielder was selected to participate in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Senior Game on Nov. 17.

Briglia has scored six goals and has a team-leading 11 assists this year.

Although Briglia’s numbers may not stand out, this senior has done it all for the Owls over the past four years.

Since her freshman year, Briglia has played in all but three games throughout her career at Temple. Briglia has started every game for the Owls since 2010.

This season, the lone senior and co-captain has played everywhere on the field except for goalkeeper.

For Temple, this isn’t their first player to be selected to the NFHCA Senior Game.

Briglia is the seventh senior in six years to be selected to represent the Owls in the game, and she is one four Atlantic 10 Conference players selected to the team this year.

-Colin Tansits

Led by sophomore forward Amber Youtz, the field hockey team is looking to for its fifth win in Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday against Saint Louis (1-14).

The Billikens are winless in conference play this season, with losses to Richmond, Massachusetts, and St. Joseph’s University.

Saint Louis is led by senior midfielder Lexie Lindblad and junior forward Tori Lycett, who each have four goals this year.

Although the Billikens have one win on the season, they have played many close games, most recently losing to St. Joe’s by one goal.

Temple is going to have to stay focused and rely on their offense that has scored 49 goals this season against a Saint Louis team that has given up 57 goals.

Youtz currently ranks sixth among all players in NCAA Division I in points per game with 2.81, and seventh in goals per game with 1.13. She leads the A-10 in both categories, and also has a conference leading nine assists.

The Owls will look to Youtz and freshman forward Alyssa Delp to lead the offensive attack. Delp is second on the team with eight goals.

Defensively, junior defender Molly Doyle and sophomore Lizzy Millen will be looking for the Owls’ first shut out of the season.

Saint Louis has scored 16 goals in their 15 games.

Temple will be looking to jump on the Billikens early and start to get ready for a big conference matchup at No. 17 Richmond. The Spiders are undefeated at home this season.

–Colin Tansits

The field hockey team will be finishing up their road trip to the south with a game tomorrow against No. 4 Maryland (7-2).

 The Owls come in riding a four game winning streak, after a come from behind win last night against Longwood (2-8).

 Coach Amanda Janney said that her team is ready to go into College Park to play the Terrapins.

 “I think our girls are fired up for the game, and I expect us to come out strong,” Janney said.

 Maryland will be coming into Sunday’s game fresh off their second loss of the season, suffered against No. 7 Virginia.

 The Terrapins are led by juniors Ali McEvoy and Jill Witmer. McEvoy, a defender, leads the team with seven goals, and Witmer, a forward, leads the team with seven assists.

 Sophomore midfielder Nicole Kroener stressed that Temple needs to get off to an early start to beat Maryland.

 “We need to come out playing like we have been against Bucknell and Longwood in the second half,” Kroener said. “We need to start playing like that in the first half because good teams like [Maryland] are going to be able to put us away if we don’t come out in the beginning.”

 The Owls will be looking for offense from their forwards freshman Alyssa Delp and sophomore Amber Youtz. The young duo have led the Temple offense through their win streak.

The game is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on the University of Maryland’s campus.

-Colin Tansits