Field Hockey Clinches Berth in A-10 Tournament With 4-2 Win

Sunday, November 1

Geasey Field

12:00 PM

Temple University

(8-11, 4-2 A-10)

Richmond

(11-8, 5-1 A-10)

Richmond

Temple

2009 Senior Day

Field Hockey Clinches Berth in A-10 Tournament With 4-2 Win

11.1.09 | Field Hockey

Box Score

Seniors close out careers at Geasey Field with crucial win

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Facing a must-win situation in order to extend its season, the Temple field hockey team was able to defeat Richmond (11-8, 5-1 A-10), who was previously unbeaten in conference play, by a score of 4-2 on Sunday. With the win, the Owls (8-11, 4-2 A-10) have clinched a spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the seventh straight season.

Prior to the contest getting under way, Temple honored its six seniors who were playing their final home game at Geasey Field. The seniors, who refused to see their season come to an end, stepped up in a big way and carried their team to a crucial win.

The Owls struck first at the 8:45 mark of the first half when senior Kristen Wanner scored off of a penalty corner. Two of her classmates, Charise Young and Mandi Ruth, assisted on the goal. A little more than 17 minutes later, the senior trio worked their magic once again in the same fashion to give Temple a 2-0 lead 10 minutes before halftime. For Wanner, her two first-half goals were her third and fourth on the season.

Richmond refused to go quietly as they cut the lead to one on a goal from Adrian Pickar with 5:48 remaining in the first half.

Temple responded less than two minutes later to push its lead back to two. Just as the first two goals, this one also came as a result of a penalty corner. Sophomore Bridget Settles, the team's leading scorer, redirected Wanner's shot off of a penalty corner from the top of the circle just past the defense to give her team a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.

Richmond would come out in the second half and control play for a majority of the first 15 minutes. Ten minutes in, their pressure finally paid off. A-10 leading scorer Sarah Blythe-Wood took a pass from Hannah Hess in the center of the circle and was able to send it into the back of the net, cutting the Owls' lead to one once again.

Back and forth play for the next 15 minutes saw both teams have opportunities at the offensive end of the field. Richmond had the best look with 20 minutes remaining in the game. Temple junior goalkeeper Sarah Dalrymple was up to the task as she came up with one of her biggest saves of the season. Blythe-Wood was able to sneak past the Owls' defense and found herself one-on-one with Dalrymple. As the Richmond forward made her move to the left and shot the ball, Dalrymple stretched out and dove to make a tremendous save and help maintain her team's one-goal advantage.

Young would provide the final goal for the Cherry and White. After a shot by freshman Arialle Hess off of a corner, Taryn Nichols was able to secure the rebound and send a short pass to Young. Young was then able to give her team some insurance with less than 11 minutes to play as she sent the ball directly into the back of the cage to give her team a 4-2 lead.

TU would shut out Richmond for the remainder of the game as they beat the Spiders for the first time in the program's history.

The seniors made their presence known throughout the contest as they combined for three goals and five assists on the day. Young's two assists now give her a team-leading 10 for the season.

All four goals on the day for the Owls came off of penalty corners as they capitalized on four of the seven that they were awarded. The Spiders were awarded five penalty corners.

Prior to today's contest, the Spiders had only given up one goal in A-10 play all season.

The Owls will travel to Amherst next Friday, November 6, to take on Saint Joseph's at Massachusetts' Garber Field. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.