MINAI LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO 2-1 WIN OVER ST. BONNIES

AMBLER, PA  -- For the second time this season Temple received instant offense off the bench in winning an Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer contest.  This time it was freshman Mike Minai who tallied the game-winner just 26 seconds after being inserted into the match, leading the Owls to a 2-1 win over visiting St. Bonaventure Friday afternoon on a rain-soaked Ambler Field.

Minai fed senior Tony Donatelli in front of the net to start the game-winning play in the 84^th minute.  Donatelli then dished it right back to his teammate who blasted it past sophomore keeper Jon Blanchard for his first collegiate goal.  That made the score 2-1 and the Owls held off the Bonnies the final six minutes to preserve the win.

"Mike came off the bench and made a great play on the ball," Temple head coach David MacWilliams said.  "It was a good win and a hard fought match by both teams."

For Donatelli it was his team-leading fifth assist of the season, and more importantly his 20^th of his career.  It ties him with Ray DeStephanis (1995-98), Peter Dicce (1982-85) and Scott Rieber (1987-90) for first on the all-time Temple list. 

Temple opened the scoring when freshman Jim Suevo dished a pass to junior Ryan Heins in front of the net.  Heins finished it for his third goal of the season in the 26^th minute to make it 1-0. 

The score remained that way until the 60^th minute when senior Konrad Paszkowski took a pass from fellow senior Fred Taylor and beat sophomore keeper Tony Pratico for his first goal of the season. 

Both teams had chances the remainder of the contest with the two keepers, Blanchard (eight saves) and Pratico (seven saves) providing solid play in goal.

The other match that Temple won with a timely substitution was at George Washington.  In that match, it was freshman Mike Rinker who entered the contest and recorded his first collegiate point, assisting on a Donatelli goal just seconds after his insertion in the Owls' 1-0 win.

The Owls (5-10-0, 3-3-0) next host Fordham on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) at Ambler Field.  St, Bonaventure falls to 3-9-3, 2-3-1 in A-10 play.

Temple University Athletics

MINAI LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO 2-1 WIN OVER ST. BONNIES

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