Field Hockey Drops a Heartbreaker to UMass, 2-1 in Overtime

Sunday, October 23

Geasey Field

1:00 PM

Temple University

(7-11, 4-1 A-10)

Massachusetts (Senior Day)

(7-9, 5-0 A-10)

OT 2

Massachusetts

Temple

2011 Field Hockey Senior Day

Field Hockey Drops a Heartbreaker to UMass, 2-1 in Overtime

10.23.11 | Field Hockey

Box Score

Owls lose a 1-0 lead with just over three minutes left in regulation

Box Score (PDF) l Senior Day Video

PHILADELPHIA - Despite a 1-0 lead that stood until the 67th minute, a win was not to be for Temple field hockey as the Owls dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Massachusetts in the battle for A-10 regular season championship. Both teams were undefeated in conference play heading into the game. Temple (7-11, 4-1) has assured itself of a berth in the A-10 Tournament no matter what happens in its final league game at Lock Haven next Sunday.

UMass (7-9, 5-0) will be the top seed in the tournament, to be held at Saint Joseph's on Nov. 4-5. The other three seeds are yet to be determined.

"Even though we didn't come out on top, I thought we played really strong and now we know we can out-play them," said Temple head coach Amanda Janney. "We still need to get better on our individual defense, and UMass did a good job of attacking us in certain areas that we're working on. On attack, we just need to put teams away. We were up a goal for more than 50 minutes and we had plenty of opportunities to get another goal on the board. We didn't do that, and they made us pay for it."

Temple's Bridget Settles, one of five seniors honored prior to the game for "Senior Day," scored in her third consecutive contest and for the fifth time in the last six games. Her 16th goal of the season and 41st of her career game in the 10th minute of the game when she scored on a rebounded shot and save after a penalty corner.

The Owls continued to dominate on both ends, out-shooting UMass 14-7 in the first half and thwarting all attempts by the Minutewomen to tie the game. Temple goalkeeper LIzzy Millen laid out for a crucial save with two minutes remaining in the opening period to preserve the lead.

UMass picked up the pace in the second half, finishing with a 7-3 lead in shots and a 5-2 lead in penalty corners, but Temple held strong to its 1-0 lead for nearly the entire rest of the game.

With just three minutes and 13 seconds left in regulation, Molly MacDonnell got a pass from teammate Alexa Sikalis in a scramble in front of the net, and pushed the ball to the far left corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1. Both teams got one more shot off in the period but both were off the mark.

The Minutewomen carried the momentum into overtime, missing on one penalty corner opportunity, but out-shooting the Owls 6-0 and converting on the final shot which came during their second corner in overtime. Nikki Panciocco took a shot on a rebounded shot and save and got it past Millen for the win in the seventh minute of the extra period.

Temple will play one more game at home, a non-conference contest against Liberty on "Play for the Cure Day," Friday, Oct. 28 at 3:00 p.m. The Owls will wrap up the A-10 season at Lock Haven on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1:00 p.m.