TRICK PLAY LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO WIN OVER LA SALLE

PHILADELPHIA-- The Temple men's soccer team pulled out its trick play against Atlantic 10 and Soccer 7 rival La Salle on a rainy Friday afternoon to defeat the home-standing Explorers, 2-1.  The Owls improve to 5-6-2 overall and 2-1-2 in A-10 play while the Explorers fall to 5-7-2 and 3-2-0.

"I had been telling David Simpson (asst. coach) that this would work, and when we finally used it, I was right," said Temple head coach David MacWilliams on the game-winning goal.

With the score tied at one-all in the 88^th minute the Owls lined up for a direct kick.  Freshman Tom Birch and junior Nick Ebersole positioned themselves in front of the Explorer wall while junior Tony Donatelli took the kick.  Donatelli dished the ball to Birch while Ebersole circled around the wall. Birch then hit Ebersole who finished the play by blasting it into the net past La Salle keeper Stash Graham for his first goal of the season.

The Owls then hung on for a key win in the A-10 race. La Salle entered the contest in a three-way tie for first place with nine points.  Temple, despite losing just once in conference play, was tied for seventh with five points.  The top six teams advance to the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.

Ryan Dougherty opened the scoring for La Salle in the 29^th minute off a feed from Josh France.  Sophomore Ryan Heins then knotted the score at 1-1 off a rebound of a Nate Webb shot in the 40^th minute.  Webb, still ailing with a back injury, was limited to just 10 minutes in the contest.

Temple out-shot the Explorers 15-9  in the game, however both defenses tightened up in the second half as each team was limited to four shot opportunities. 

Owls senior keeper Patrick Hannigan recorded two saves while La Salle goalie Stash Graham posted six save in the contest..

The Owls next travel to Fordham Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. match against the Rams.

Temple University Athletics

TRICK PLAY LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO WIN OVER LA SALLE

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