Butler Storms Back From Three Down To Force 3-3 Draw With Men's Soccer

Friday, October 19

Ambler Sports Complex

3:30 p.m.

Temple University

7-4-3, (3-0-2,A10)

Butler

3-6-5, (1-3-1,A10)

OT 3

OT 4

Butler

Temple

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Butler Storms Back From Three Down To Force 3-3 Draw With Men's Soccer

10.19.12 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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AMBLER – Leading Atlantic 10 Conference newcomer Butler (3-6-5, 1-3-1) by three goals with just over 15 minutes to play, the Owls began to get a sense of security and looked as if they were well on their way to three more points in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings. Not fazed nor discouraged with Temple's threatening advantage, the Bulldogs rose to the occasion and rallied all the way back, scoring three goals in a 9:52 span to knot the match at three a piece, forcing overtime, where the two teams settled for a 3-3 draw after two extra sessions.

For how difficult it was for Temple to see a lead that large evaporate and have a near-win slip away, the Owls were still fortunate to pick up a point toward the A-10 standings, keeping them in first place of the conference until Saint Louis and Virginia Commonwealth play their contests Friday evening.

Temple improves to 7-4-3 on the year and remains unbeaten in A-10 play with its 3-0-2 mark against conference opponents, marking the longest the team has gone undefeated in league play since 2003 when it opened 4-0-1 through its first five games. The Owls are also still undefeated at the Ambler Sports Complex in 2012, owning a record of 5-0-1, which continues the program's best-ever start to a home slate since moving to Ambler back in 2004.

Senior Cody Calafiore tallied a five-point afternoon by having had a hand in all three of Temple's goals on Friday. The Howell, N.J native got the Owls the early advantage in the 35th minute when he blasted a pass over the box from freshman Jared Martinell.

For the game, Rosato stopped six shots through 110 minutes, while Butler's Jon Dawson got in the way of seven shots that were launched at him by the Owls.

Getting a late start in creating chances, the Owls did manage to pull away with the lead in the shots category, as they finished with 23 to Butler's 18.

In the 60th minute, Calafiore and Martinelli teamed up to find their ways onto the score sheet again. Martinelli pelted a hard shot, but it had it stopped by Dawson. Unable to retrieve the ball on the save, Calafiore nailed home the rebound, to give Temple a little breathing room with a 2-0 lead.

Martinelli's two assists on the day bring him to nine on the year, which ties him for second place for most assists in a single season at Temple with Tony Donatelli, who had as many during his junior year back in 2004.

Martinelli and Spurrier combine for 17 assists this season, giving them the record for most assist by a Temple duo in a single season. Scott Reiber and Andrew Craig combined for 16 assists in 1990.

Before being substituted for junior Sam Heller, Calafiore dumped a pass through traffic to redshirt sophomore Chas Wilson, who put the ball in the back of the net for the 3-0 advantage in the 74th minute.

Thinking he was taking a curtain call on his way back to the bench after providing the assist, the game proved to be far from over for Calafiore and the Owls.

Butler was bringing pressure into the Owls' zone from the get-go, as it opened the match with seven straight shots before Temple could find a chance down the other end. Junior goalkeeper Bobby Rosato was tested early on, having to make a couple big saves in the opening half. With the speed of the Bulldogs' forwards and their ability to spread the field and possess the ball, it was only a matter of time that Butler would find a way to do damage.

With Martinelli already on the sideline and now Calafiore coming off after Wilson's goal, Butler quelled Temple's excitement quickly, as Zach Steinberger put home a pass from Austin Oldham to get the Bulldogs on the board just 29 seconds later.

Fighting for even more, the Bulldogs continued to press and create chances.

In the 80th minute, Jeff Adkins suddenly made it a one-goal game after getting help on the score from Adam Glanzer.

With little room for error and the feeling of this match turning into a nail-biter, Butler was not done. Steinberger dealt a pass to Jordan Burt in the 85th minute, who deadlocked the score at three.

Looking to stay within grasp of the No. 1 seed in the A-10 tournament picture, while striving to remaini undefeated at home and in A-10 play, Temple will have its toughest test yet, as it faces No.23 Saint Louis on Sunday at the Ambler Sports Complex at 1:00 p.m.