Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/17/12
From Press Release
With nine returning starters included in 19 returning letterwinners, the Temple lacrosse team has experience on its side as it looks make a return to the top of the Atlantic 10 in the 2012 season. The Owls’ season begins today as they play host to Oregon at 3:00 p.m. at Geasey Field.
All eight of the Owls’ top scorers from 2011 return this season for sixth-year head coach Bonnie Rosen (Harriton), including A-10 First Team and All-Region Second Team selection Charlotte Swavola (Cheltenham). The Ducks, who play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), are coming off an 8-9 season. Head coach Jen Larsen Beck has been at the helm of the Oregon program since its inception seven years ago, and like Rosen, is an alum of the University of Virginia.
Swavola, now a junior, scored 38 goals to lead Temple last year and also recorded a team-best 13 assists for 51 total points. The Owls went 7-10 overall but 5-2 in the conference to record their best league record in three years. Temple won its final three A-10 regular-season games to take third place in the standings and the third seed at the A-10 Tournament on its home field, but lost to second-seeded Richmond by a score of 12-8.
This year’s team features an impressive group of nine seniors including returning starting goalkeeper Tess Bishop. Seniors Missy Schweitzer (Owen J. Roberts), Karly Cohen, Stephanie Markunas (Ridley), Kelsey Zenuk (St. Mark’s, DE) and Jackie Mercer (Washington Township, NJ) all scored at least 10 goals for Temple last season, led by Schweitzer with 25. Seniors Lauren Caminiti (North Penn), Keelin Hood (Great Valley) and Allison McWilliams (Avon Grove) round out the group, and all nine members of the senior class have spent their entire collegiate careers as Owls.
Junior Stephany Parcell (Interboro), along with Swavola, helps anchor a veteran group of six juniors that return to the team this year. Parcell tied for second on the team with 25 goals as a sophomore, and was the team leader with 26 draw controls.
Now sophomores, Lea Britton (Council Rock North) and Jaymie Tabor (Downingtown West) were both named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team for their performances as freshmen a year ago. Tabor was fifth on the team with 15 goals, while Britton scored twice and added an assist as she helped make up a powerful midfield for Temple.
Six true freshmen join the Owls in 2012, a class that includes two goalkeepers.
Off the field, Temple lacrosse players have continued to be impressive in the classroom, and the Owls earned recognition as an IWLCA Division I Honor Squad for the fifth year in a row in 2011. Schweitzer is a two time A-10 All-Academic Team selection, and was also named to the 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team along with being honored as one of Temple’s Trustee Ten for having one of the 10 highest GPA’s among all student-athletes. Joining Schweitzer on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2011 were current teammates Hood and McWilliams along with former teammates Shelby Christopher (Avon Grove) and Ann Stouffer.
The Owls’ non-conference schedule for 2012 includes two teams ranked in the top 10 nationally, as Temple travels to #4 Florida on March 10 and hosts #8 Princeton on April 4. A-10 play begins for the Owls on March 30 at St. Bonaventure, and they will conclude the regular season against defending A-10 champ UMass at home on April 22
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