Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE DOWNS #17 DUQUESNE ON PENALTY KICKS TO ADVANCE TO A-10 MEN'S SOCCER FINAL
11.14.03 | Men's Soccer
"This was a gutsy win by a team that has shown a lot of heart all season," stated MacWilliams following the win over the tournament's #2-seed. "We played on tired legs in the second half, and it was starting to show. But this team has fought all season and never gave up. I am extremely proud of the effort."
"Now we must go out and do it again against a tough Rhode Island team on Sunday."
Sophomore Tony Donatelli tallied his seventh goal of the season in the 11th minute to give Temple an early 1-0 lead. The Owls made that hold until halftime, limiting the dangerous Duke offense to just three shots, none coming on goal.
Duquesne's Steve Mellor knotted the game at 1-1 just three minutes into the second half off an assist by A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Damien Pottinger. The Dukes started to become more aggressive as the half went on, out-shooting the Owls, 5-3, in the period as the Temple players, started to tire after two straight days of play on a cold First Market Stadium Field.
Temple, however, held off Duquesne and regulation ended at 1-1. Duquesne out-shot the Cherry and White, 4-1, in the first overtime, but Patrick Hannigan (five saves), the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, was up to the challenge.
The second overtime was evenly played, and the game remained tied, 1-1, forcing penalty kicks.
Duquesne shot first and Matt Mehler coverted for the Dukes. Steven Wacker evened the PKs at 1-1, beating DU goalkeeper and A-10 Rookie of the Year Zach Varga (six saves). Pottinger, shooting second, hit the crossbar, opening the door for the Owls. And Temple did not allow it to close as Donatelli, Chad Baker, Joe Brocker and Bryan Laverdure all followed Wacker, blasting their shots past Varga to allow Temple to advance.
The game officially ends as a tie, so Temple improves to 13-5-5, but more importantly, will play for the A-10 Title against upstart Rhode Island, a 1-0 winner over top-seed and host Richmond, on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
