Women's Soccer Drops A-10 Opener To St. Joe's, 1-0

Saturday, September 29

Ambler, Pa.

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

3-7-2, (0-1-0)

Saint Joseph's

6-4-1, (1-0-0_

Saint Joseph's

Temple

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Women's Soccer Drops A-10 Opener To St. Joe's, 1-0

9.29.12 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

AMBLER – A new slate began Saturday for Temple Women's Soccer with the start of Atlantic 10 Conference play. In their league opener, Saint Joseph's visited the Ambler Sports Complex and left the Owls with a 1-0 defeat. Junior Mo Hawkins, who hurt the Owls with a three-goal game in last year's meeting, did all the damage needed in this season's affair, as she tallied the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute when she was dealt a pass through traffic and in to the box from junior Morgan Duffy.

In what proved to be a pretty balanced match, Saint Joseph's (6-4-1, 1-0-0) finished with 22 shots to Temple's 20. Redshirt senior Tara Murphy turned away seven shots that came her way, while Christine Neal recorded the clean sheet on her end by stopping all six shots the Owls directed in her way.

Junior Karly O'Toole was one of three Temple players to shoot four times, but of her total chances, she finished with a game-high three shots on goal.

Senior Casey Greco had an exciting shift for the Owls in late in the second half. Of her four shots on the day, she drilled a ball from about 30 yards on the far left side in the 62nd minute, but Neal raised her arms to get her fingers on it, causing it to sail over the netting and keep the score in SJU's favor.

The Hawks closed out the opening 45 minutes with 15 chances, but that was not an indication of them maintaining possession for a majority of the first half. Temple proved to be more selective on opportunities, as it blasted just six shots. However, in the second half, the Owls threw tests at SJU more often in their attempt to even the deficit after Hawkins' goal. Temple outshot the Hawks 14-7 in the final session, but SJU's defense proved to be unyielding.

The Owls controlled the pace of the game and kept St. Joe's from extending time on possessions, causing 14 of the Hawks' 22 shots to go off target. Temple was whistled 17 times over the course of the contest, while SJU was called for only seven penalties.

With the match being the A-10 opener for both teams, intensity was prevalent and with this also being a battle for city pride, tension and physicality was higher than its norm. When Hawkins scored for SJU, the aggression brewed stronger and eventually led to a yellow cards being issued to each side before the final horn.

The 1-0 score marks the 10th straight game that either Temple or its opponent has notched a shutout and is also the seventh straight game that the Owls have been involved in a game decided by one goal or less.

Dropping to 3-7-2 on the year and holding a record of 0-1-0 through A-10 play, the Owls will have off until Friday when they head to Olean, N.Y. for a league match against the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies. Kick off time is set for 3:00 p.m.