Defending champion Owls picked to finish third in A-10

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/19/09

   The defending champion Temple women’s team was picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 race for 2009 in a poll conducted by the league’s head coaches.

   Last season the Owls captured the Atlantic 10 regular season championship and a record setting fifth Tournament crown. Bonnie Rosen (Harriton) was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, guiding Temple to a 13-5 overall record, a 6-1 mark in the conference and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. The 13 wins are the most since the 2003 season.

    Richmond was picked to finish first and Massachusetts was tabbed second. Duquesne rounded out the top four.George Washington has been picked fifth, followed by Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure and La Salle.

    The Owls return midfielder/defender Jennifer Homka (Garnet Valley), a 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection, and junior midfielder Chelsea Rosiek (Wissahickon), who had 26 goals and 17 assists. Also, senior attacker Brittney Hoffman had 25 goals and junior Tracy Zimmer (Council Rock North) heads the defense.

    St. Joe’s returns junior Jenna Martino, a first-team all conference pick who paced the Hawks in scoring (45) and points (53). Senior goalie Suzy Herlihy was a second-team pick and sophomore defender defender Christine Readinger (Archbishop Carroll) made the A-10 Rookie Team.

    La Salle, led by rookie coach Candace Taglianetti, will depend on junior attacker Stefany McKee (32 goals), junior Elizabeth Iacullo (14goals), junior attacker Alie Venuti (12 goals), sophomore midfielder Nicole McCurdy (8 goals, 7 assists, Germantown Academy) and junior defender Dorothy Schalleur (Upper Darby). 

    Richmond returns reigning Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, Alli Furstenburg and three-time All Conference selection Mandy Friend.

Furstenburg, a native of Whitehouse Station, N.J., led the team with 54 goals last season. Furstenburg was second on the team in assists (28) and points (82). Friend, a native of Canandaigua, N.Y., has built a decorated resume at Richmond. Last season she started every game for Spiders, while netting 53 goals and dishing 36 assists and earning a season-best 89 points.

    The four-team 2009 A-10 Championship will be held April 24-26 at Temple’s Geasey Field.

2009 Preseason Poll (2008 A-10/overall record)
1. Richmond (6-1/9-9)
2. Massachusetts (4-3/7-11)
3. Temple (6-1/13-7)
4. Duquesne (5-2/8-9)
5. George Washington (3-4/5-11)
6. Saint Joseph’s (2-5/7-9)
7. St. Bonaventure (2-5/4-10)
8. La Salle (0-7/1-15)