Temple University Athletics
OWLS PLAY XAVIER TO 1-1 TIE
11.4.05 | Men's Soccer
AMBLER, PA -- With both teams needing a win to improve their chances at an Atlantic 10 Tournament bid, neither squad could earn a victory as Temple and Xavier played to a 1-1 tie on Friday afternoon. The Owls still have hope for a postseason appearance but must defeat Dayton in the regular season finale on Sunday and get help from several A-10 rivals. Senior Joe Brocker tallied Temple's only goal.
Play remained primarily in the midfield during the game's opening 20 minutes with each team firing only a single shot. Brocker got the Owls (5-10-2, 3-3-2 A-10) on the board with his first goal of the season in the 28th minute. The senior back fired a low line drive from 25 yards out to beat Xavier keeper Liam Curran to the far post.
The Musketeers (3-10-5, 2-3-3 A-10) responded eight minutes later off a corner kick. Bobby Salas served the ball into the box to Chris Wolever, who found the head of Jimmy Cummings for the equalizer. It was the sophomore's third goal of the year.
Temple's Tony Donatelli had two chances to break the tie, once at the end of regulation and again in double overtime. In the 89th minute, the senior was streaking down the left side looking for the game-winner. Curran came out to challenge and Donatelli was unable to lift the ball over the keeper and the two teams moved onto the first extra stanza.
After an evenly played first overtime, Donatelli had another good chance for TU. After receiving a great through-ball, the Glenside, Pa. native had Curran 1-on-1. The keeper again came out of the goal to stop Donatelli from ending the game.
Both teams fought extra hard in the final 10 minutes, knowing their playoff chances were on the line. Of the six cards handed out in the contest, four came in the game's final five minutes. Temple even played with a man-advantage for the last two minutes after XU's Chris Wolever received his second yellow card of the game, but could not find the back of the net.
Temple sophomore Tony Pratico made four saves in goal, while Curran stopped five shots. The Owls held an 18-13 lead in shots and a 6-4 advantage in corners.
The tie was TU's second straight and keeps the Cherry and White undefeated in its last four games.
The Owls will honor their five seniors on Sunday against Dayton. Timmy Greer, Ben Evans, Kevin Gallagher, Brocker and Donatelli will all play their regular season game against the Flyers. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
