Temple University Athletics
RICHMOND SNAPS MEN'S SOCCER'S FIVE-MATCH WIN STREAK IN BATTLE OF A-10 UNBEATENS
10.24.03 | Men's Soccer
The two teams entered the match as the only remaining unbeaten teams in Atlantic 10 Conference play, each coming off road upsets of ranked teams in their previous games. Richmond, 7-4-4, 4-0-3 in conference play, defeated #8 Dayton on October 19, 1-0, and now has won four straight and has lost just once in its last 11 matches. Temple, 9-3-2, 5-1-1, had its five-match win streak snapped with the loss. The Owls, which knocked off #22 Duquesne on October 19, are off to the program's best start since the 1990 season. Its win streak was the longest since an eight-match streak that season.
"Both teams played well," stated Temple head coach David MacWilliams. "They took advantage of a mistake in our own box and they finished it. We had quite a few chances, particularly in the second half, but there keeper made three big saves."
A Temple defensive breakdown, one of the Owls' lone mishaps in the contest, led to the game's only goal. Richmond senior forward Ken Holliday passed a ball through the box that should have been cleared by an Owl defender, but senior defender Vinnie Ciarpella was quicker to the ball and drilled it past Temple keeper Patrick Hannigan in the 30th minute. It was the first goal that Hannigan, who entered the game with a 0.24 goals against average (2nd nationally), had allowed in over three matches.
Nwaneri, who came into the contest with a not too shabby 0.85 goals against average, was impressive throughout the match, especially in the second half. In the final 45 minutes, the Spider keeper made three diving saves and five total stops while facing 10 shots. The shutout was his sixth of the season, tying him with Hannigan for the A-10 lead.
In the 70th minute it appeared that the Owls had finally pushed the ball past Nwaneri. Sophomore forward Tony Donatelli, who led the Owls with five shots, appeared to have his drive from inside the box cross the goal line before a Spider defender cleared it. The four Temple attackers inside the box were jubilant at first, but then were shouting for assistance to the referee, to no avail.
"I could not see it from where I was," said MacWilliams of the play. "But four of my players said it was in. Unfortunately the call did not go our way."
Temple will close out its homestand on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) when it hosts George Washington in the final men's soccer match at Temple Stadium. It also is Senior Day and Temple will honor its three seniors, Matt Moran, Tony Viglietti and Roberto Vinces, in a pre-game ceremony. A student bus will depart from Tuttleman at 12:30 p.m. for Temple Stadium for fasn looking for transportation to the match.
