Ohmen makes 14 saves but Merrimack falls to Temple

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.  – The Merrimack College field hockey program played in its first-ever Division I contest on Friday evening, facing the Temple University Owls from Howarth Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Senior Katharina Ohmen made 14 saves in the contest – the most for the team captain since her freshman year – but the Warriors dropped 3-0 decision to their American Athletic Conference foes.

The Basics
Score: Temple 3, Merrimack 0
Records: Merrimack (0-1) | Temple (1-0)
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. | Howarth Field

Rapid Recap

• The game started in Merrimack’s favor, with the Warriors outshooting the Owls in the opening quarter (3-2). All three of Merrimack’s attempts came within a three-minute span in the first quarter, including a strike by sophomore Isabelle Duseau off a penalty corner that was saved
• Ohmen played spectacularly in the second quarter, making four saves to keep things scoreless at halftime. With less than five minutes until the half, the German native made two stops within seconds of each other to keep the game even
• The first goal of the night came early in the third quarter. Ohmen made an initial save, but Temple’s Dani Batze converted on the ensuing rebound. Six minutes later, Temple doubled its advantage, scoring on a breakaway
• Sophomore Juliane Ohmen put two shots on net in the fourth quarter, making a bid to cut the Warriors’ deficit in half. Temple tacked on an insurance marker with less than five minutes to play in the game

Notes and Figures

• Thirteen of Ohmen’s 14 saves came in the night’s final three quarters
• The team captain totaled the second most saves of her career and most since a career-best 18 stops during her freshman season
• Freshmen Wilma Neumann and Jane Bonazzoli  made their first career starts as did sophomore Meaghan O’Brien. Off the bench, newcomers Catherine Henaire, Leah Glidden, Ava Dorci, Riley Lambert, and Morgan Chase all made their Merrimack debuts

Up Next:
Merrimack plays locally at Holy Cross next Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Crusaders’ Hart Turf Field in Worcester, Mass.