Temple University Athletics
MEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO GW IN A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP, 2-0
11.14.04 | Men's Soccer
MOUNT VERNON, VA -- Junior midfielder Steve Brown tallied in the ninth minute and that was all George Washington needed as the Colonial defense shut down the Temple Owl offense in capturing the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer championship with a 2-0 win Sunday afternoon in front of a partisan crowd of 811 at the GW Mount Vernon Athletic Complex. The Owls end their season with a
"They are a good team," stated
The game started off with both teams having early chances on direct kicks. After GW failed on its opportunity in the first minute, the Owls Tony Donatelli blasted one high that was saved by junior keeper Derek Biss in the third minute.
In the ninth minute,
The Owls pressured the Colonial defense the remainder of the half, compiling seven of their season-high 13 corner kicks in the period. The GW defense, however, did not give the Cherry and White attackers any solid scoring chances. The Owls best opportunity was a Donatelli shot in the final seconds from 20 yards out that Biss dove to his left to stop.
GW junior defender Andre Chapman, who it the post in the 34th minute, broke free on a counterattack in the 65th minute, splitting two Temple defenders to go in alone on Patrick Hannigan. Chapman was true on the shot for his sixth goal to give the Colonials a 2-0 lead.
Instead of hanging their heads, the Owls continued to pressure with senior Nate Webb hitting the crossbar in the 78th minute and then drilling one in the 83rd minute that Biss saved. Sophomore defender Chris Shelton blasted a shot with four minutes remaining for the Owls final scoring opportunity.
"It shows the character of the team," stated MacWilliams on the team's strong finish. "We were not going to quit no matter what. Even though we did not come out with the result we wanted I still think the guys battled.
"I am disappointed for the four seniors who really helped turn this program around. We wanted to win it for those guys but unfortunately it did not happen."
Hannigan, who joined Donatelli and
Biss, who made five saves in goal for GW, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship.
