Monthly Archives: August 2012

Men’s soccer hopes to build off season opener

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Men’s soccer coach David MacWilliams looks for tonight’s opener against Virginia Tech to be a confidence builder.

“I think the first game usually gives us confidence and energy, and then we just kind of go from there,” MacWilliams said. “You’re always searching for that first win, especially on the road.”

The Owls get the 2012 season underway in Harrisonburg, Va. as they compete in the James Madison Tournament. Following tonight’s matchup against the Hokies, they will face James Madison on Sunday before returning for the home opener at Ambler Campus on Tuesday.

The club has bared the brunt of some bad news this past week heading into the opener. Junior defenseman Drayt Friedman has been confirmed to still have concussion-like symptoms, an injury he sustained late last season. There is no timetable for Friedman’s return, who played a big role on the team’s defense last year.

Furthermore, coach MacWilliams’ son Matt has chosen not be apart of the team this season. MacWilliams started 13 games last year as a junior. His only goal was a game-winner against Jacksonville on Sept. 16.

The Owls also lost out on a high school All-American recruit, whose name could not be revealed.

“His grades just weren’t good enough,” MacWilliams said.

Virginia Tech is coming off a season in which they won only four games, one coming in Atlantic Coas Conference play. Forward Mikey Minutillo led the team in goals (5) and points (11) last season as a sophomore.

The Owls are set to play the Hokies tonight at 5 p.m.

-Tyler Sablich

Volleyball set for Big 5 Tournament

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After bouncing back to win the last two games of the South Carolina Invitational last weekend and salvaging a 2-2 record before its return home, the volleyball team will participate in the annual Big 5 Tournament at the Palestra this weekend.
The Owls dropped two out of three in this same tournament last season, losing to Penn 1-3, Villanova 0-3 and beating La Salle 3-1. They will have a chance to play the same three teams, Penn on Friday night at 7 p.m., and Villanova and La Salle Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
Penn has yet to play a match this season while La Salle is 1-3 with their lone win coming against Niagara. Villanova is 2-1 so far after beating Robert Morris and New Hampshire and losing to Maryland.
Temple started 0-2 but won its last two matches to get to .500. They’ve been led by junior Elyse Burkert, with 54 kills, on offense. She has been aided by sophomore Tiffany Connatser, who leads the team with 123 assists. Senior Chelsea Tupuola and junior Gabriella Matautia have led the defensive effort with 46 and 37 digs, respectively.
-Brandon Stoneburg

Jourdan Brill named to all-tournament team

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Senior midfielder Jouran Brill, who recently began her senior year at Temple, walked away from the Fairfield Inn by Marriot tournament in Harrisonburg, Va. from Aug. 24-26 with a spot on the all-tournament team.

“I am going to be completely honest, I had no idea that there even was an all-tournament team for that tournament,” Brill said. “I knew I played two good games, but I had no idea. I was really excited and really surprised.”

With three of Temple’s 13 total shots in the tournament, Brill also added the team’s only goal of the weekend in the 3-1 loss against Hofstra, eventually earning her the honor of all-tournament team.

“I actually found out from my teammates on the bus after the tournament was over that I was named to the all-tournament team,” Brill said.

Although Temple lost both matches of the weekend, Brill said that her most memorable moment of the tournament was leading nationally ranked Hofstra 1-0 for most of the first half.

“She was fantastic, very competitive, and did everything we asked of her,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “She truly earned it and I am happy for her.”

Women’s rowing coach resigns

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Jason Read, an Olympic gold medalist, has resigned from his position as head coach of the women’s rowing team.

Read will be replaced by former assistant coach Rebecca Smith Grzybowski, who has been with the team for one year.

Read, a gold medalist from the 2004 Athens games, resigned to pursue other professional opportunities.

Grzybowski helped oversee a Temple rowing team that placed third at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships last year. Fall physicals for the women’s rowers begin next Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Field hockey hosts high school clinic

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After their 2-1 loss to No. 5 Duke, the field hockey team hosted a clinic for high school and middle school girls last Sunday at Geasey Field.

Former Olympian Carrie Lingo, who recently retired from field hockey before the 2012 Olympic Games and had been on the U.S. National Team since 2002, was the guest coach.

Lingo played in Beijing in the 2008 Games, and was a big part of Team USA reaching the Olympics.

Coach Amanda Janney said that being able to attract young fans and then have them work on their skills on the field after the game is a special thing to do.

“We had the time that we wanted to do two hours of skill work with the kids,” Janney said. “And we had a good turn out with over 30 kids, and eight middle school kids which is great to help them develop skills at an early age.”

The camp consisted of different skill station rotations, working on various moves and skills. Janney and her assistants worked with both Lingo and current players on the Owls’ squad.

But Janney said that one of the best parts of the whole clinic was having an Olympian there.

“Its really good for the girls on our team to meet an Olympian, and I think we have some girls on our team that can make it to the next level and be on the national team,” Janney said. “But I think they don’t quite understand how close [making the national team] is to their grasp.”

The clinic brought players from all over to work with both college athletes and coaches a like, and for Janney the experience was worth the time.

“I think it was really cool to have both young girls and our girls meet [Lingo],” Janney said. “It was a great opportunity to not only work on their skills but to dream bigger.”

-Colin Tansits

Fencing announces recruiting class

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The fencing team will add five recruits to its roster, including three locals, one Oregon native and a Mexican native, for the 2012-13 season, it was announced in a press release Wednesday.

Demitria Antipas (Stony Brook, N.Y.), Jessica Hall (Parsippany, N.J.), Olivia Wynn (Somerville, N.J.), Petea Khan (Beaverton,Ore.) and Fatima Laragaespada (Puebla, Mexico) will join coach Nikki Franke’s squad this season.

“I am very happy with the quality of fencers we have joining our program this season,” Franke said in the press release.  “They are all hard workers and we’re looking forward to steady growth throughout their time here at Temple. They add considerable depth to our roster.”

Antipas, Laragaespada and Wynn will join the team as foilists, while Hall competes at epee and Khan at sabre fencer. The Owls finished last season No. 10 at the NCAA Championships and a 24-8 record overall.

The fencing season begins at home on Oct. 27 at the Temple Open.

Volleyball bounces back with first win of season

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The volleyball team defeated UNC-Asheville in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20 to pick up its first win of the season in the South Carolina Invitational Saturday morning.

Junior Elyse Burkert led the way for the Owls with 17 kills, while sophomore Tiffany Connatser added 35 assists and junior Gabriella Matuatia held things down on defense with 15 digs.

Temple will have a chance to make it a winning streak later today when it takes on the Akron Zips at 5 p.m. to conclude the weekend.

–Brandon Stoneburg

Volleyball loses first game of season

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With the first set, spike and dig, the 2012 season was under way this afternoon for the Owls’ volleyball team at the South Carolina Gamecock invitational.

South Carolina handed the Owls their first loss of the season in easy fashion. Temple lost in straight sets 25-14, 25-15, 25-18.

Junior Gabriella Matautia led the attack for Temple with 10 kills, while sophomore Tiffany Connatser added 23 assists in the losing effort. Senior Chelsea Tupuola led the team with 12 digs.

The Owls will have another shot at notching their first win later today at 5:30 against East Tennessee State.

-Brandon Stoneburg

Wyatt trial postponed

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Senior guard Khalif Wyatt’s trial has been postponed again, thus continuing the nearly three-month process since his arrest. Wyatt, who did not appear in court today, has had his trial postponed to an unknown date. The judge made a statement to the court announcing that Wyatt had a “conflict in representation.”

Wyatt is being represented by Peter Sarkos. Neither were in court.

A co-defendant in Wyatt’s case did appear, however, the judge ruled to delay both cases so that they would be heard simultaneously. He is believed to have been with Wyatt the day he was arrested.

-Ibrahim Jacobs 

[Updated 8/21 at 9:37 p.m.]

Field hockey places third in preseason poll

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Temple was selected to finish third in the Atlantic 10 Conference for field hockey in the preseason poll, released Aug. 16.

Reigning A-10 champion Richmond Spiders took the No. 1 spot, while The University of Massachusetts, a team that was shut-out by the Owls in the A-10 tournament last fall, placed second

With only one returning senior this year, the Owls will be looking for production from senior defender Katie Briglia and sophomore forward Amber Youtz.

This weekend the team begins their tough schedule with the Temple Invitational, as both Virginia and Duke will be traveling to Geasey Field to take on the Owls.

-Colin Tansits