Two First Half Goals Holds Up In Women's Soccer's 2-0 Victory Over UMass

Sunday, October 14

Ambler, Pa.

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

5-9-2, (2-3-0)

Massachusetts

7-8-0, (2-3-0)

Massachusetts

Temple

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Two First Half Goals Holds Up In Women's Soccer's 2-0 Victory Over UMass

10.14.12 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

AMBLER – For the first time in more than a year, Temple Women's Soccer scored more than one goal in a game, catapulting them to a 2-0 victory over the Massachusetts Minutewomen on Sunday afternoon at the Ambler Sports Complex. The Owls made an adjustment to the scoreboard two time within an eight-minute frame, as sophomore Alyssa Kirk netted the fi rst goal of her Temple career in the 28th minute before senior Jourdan Brill gave the team an insurance goal on her kick in the 36th minute.

Freshman Paula Jurewicz collected her second assist of the season, bring her point total to four points on the year, when she provided the helper on Kirk's goal. Drivng a free kick into play, junior Karly O'Toole also nabbed her second assist of the year, as she set Brill up with the team's second goal.

Brill's goal not only gave TU the most comfortable lead that its had all season, but made her the team;s new leader in scoring with five points on the year.

Having just five shots in the opening half, the Owls certainly made the most of their opportunities, as they capitalized twice. UMass had a plethora of opportunities in the first half, but the Temple defense rebounded from its woes on Friday and kept the Minutewomen off the scoreboard. Carrying its momentum from the latter minutes of the first half, Temple continued to penetrate the UMass zone and present the Minutewomen goalkeeping platoon with tests, as it pelted 12 shots in the final 45 minutes. UMass won the shots battle by a narrow, 19-17 edge.

Freshman Shauni Kerkhoff pitched her fourth clean sheet of her rookie season by turning away all eight shots she faced. Temple, who enetered the weekend with the ninth-highest save percentage in the nation, shut out its opponent for the sixth time this season, marking the most shutouts the team has posted since 1992.

With Temple holding a threatening lead, UMass began to raise the intensity of the match, causing them to be warranted four yellow cards in the half. The Owls and Minutewomen tied for seven fouls apiece for the match.

The Owls' 2-0 win ends a stretch of 10 straight games that were decided by one goal or less. Temple wins its first match by two goals since Sept. 26, 2010 when it defeated Wagner, 2-0. The last time the Owls scored two times in a game, one would have to go all the way back to Oct. 7, 2011 when Niki Conn and Karly O'Toole netted goals for the Owls in the team's 3-2 loss to Richmond.

With the win, Temple picks up its fifth win of the year and its second in the last three games. Holding a record of 5-9-2 overall and 2-3-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, the Owls head for their farthest trip of the season when they take on Butler Friday evening in Indianapolis. Kickoff time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.