Experienced freshman class prepared for next season after loss to UConn

Three freshman played in every game for the Owls in 2016.

Departing senior forward Katie Foran is excited to see the future for freshman goalkeeper Maddie Lilliock and the rest of the class of 2020.

Lilliock started every game for the Owls. She finished the season with 126 saves and one shutout. She allowed seven goals in Temple’s season-ending 8-1 loss to Connecticut on Friday at Howarth Field, but Foran thinks her future looks bright.

“It’s hard coming out there being a freshman and performing as well as she did,” Foran said.

The only other freshman to start every game was midfielder Maddie Merton, who was second on the team with 14 points, six goals and two assists. She was also the inserter for penalty corners, which requires accurate passing. During the week of Oct. 3-9, she was named PhilaFieldHockey Student-Athlete of the Week.

Freshman back Becky Gerhart played every game and started in 15, including the final 11 games of the season. Gerhart led the team with nine defensive saves.

Midfield Kathryn Edgar appeared in 12 games and had 16 shots on goal in 961 minutes on the field. Forward Cristen Barnett  played 216 minutes in 16 substitution appearances, including the Owls’ last win against Lafayette.

“We have great underclassmen, and I know that they’ve improved so much over the year and learned a great amount and have improved so much over a season that I know they’re going to do great things next season,” senior back and midfield Ali Meszaros said. “I know they’re going to just keep on improving and do very well

Jay Neemeyer can be reached via email at jay.neemeyer@temple.edu and on twitter as @j_neemeyer.

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