Field Hockey Falls 7-3 to #2 UConn in BIG EAST Championship Game

Sunday, November 8

Norfolk, Va.

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

(8-13)

UConn (BIG EAST Championship)

(20-0)

Temple

UConn

Field Hockey Falls 7-3 to #2 UConn in BIG EAST Championship Game

11.8.15 | Field Hockey

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. - After giving up early goals, Temple field hockey more than held its own the rest of the way, but it wasn't enough as the Owls fell 7-3 to #2 UConn in the BIG EAST Championship game on Sunday afternoon. Senior Alyssa Delp scored two penalty-stroke goals to lead the Owls, who put three of the game's final five goals on the scoreboard.

Temple finishes the 2015 season with an overall record of 8-13, winning five straight games before falling to the two-time defending NCAA champion Huskies. UConn remains undefeated this season, improving to 20-0.

Delp and fellow seniors Sarah Deck and Tricia Light were all named to the BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team for their efforts in a 1-1 weekend for the Owls. Delp scored three goals overall, while Light and Deck added one apiece.

With 33 career goals, Delp finishes her four years at Temple tied for 10th all-time in goals. She made the most of every penalty stroke opportunity she was given this season, making all six chances.

"Congratulations to UConn on a well-played game, and we wish them the best of luck in the NCAA Tournament," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. "I'm proud to see how this team has positively progressed all season. To be able to get three goals in the game is something I know that doesn't happen very often (against UConn).

I'm proud of the strength we played with in our frontfield, and I think our second-half play and our defense really showed the type of abilities that we have. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do it over the course of 70 minutes today."

UConn came out fast offensively and broke down the Owls' defense early, scoring five goals in less than 15 minutes to start the game. Casey Umstead put the Huskies on the board just over five minutes in, and Pippa Lewis scored in each of the next two minutes.

Karlie Heistand took a pass from Charlotte Veitner to make it 4-0 in the 10th minute, and Veitner scored on a breakaway 14:40 into the game to put UConn up 5-0.

Veitner's goal would be the last of the half for the Huskies, as Temple held them scoreless for over 20 minutes to finish the period. Mitchell had made a save early and made another with six minutes left to keep UConn from striking again.

After blocking a shot on a UConn corner, the Owls came quickly back the other way and earned their first and only penalty corner of the first half in the 19th minute. Senior Sarah Deck made Temple's first shot count, as her strike off an assist from senior Tricia Light on the corner made it past UConn goalkeeper Nina Klein to put the Owls on the scoreboard.

Six minutes later, the Owls had a trio of shots, two of which were on goal and saved by Klein. They continued to press, and Light earned Temple a penalty stroke in the final minutes of the half. Senior Alyssa Delp took the stroke and placed it into the lower left corner of the cage, converting her fifth of five penalty strokes this season and bringing the Owls within three.

The 5-2 score stood at the break. UConn took 11 total shots in the first half to Temple's five, but had just a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Huskies had six corners to Temple's one, but did not score any of their goals on corners.

That statistic changed early in the second half, with UConn's Roisin Upton scoring on the second of back-to-back corners earned by the Huskies in the fourth minute.

Temple held UConn scoreless for nearly the next 30 minutes of action, but was able to get just one more goal on the board in the meantime.

The Owls had a corner opportunity overturned by video review with 25 minutes left, but a short time later Temple earned its second stroke of the game. Delp was able to convert yet again, bringing the Owls with three, 6-3 in the 54th minute.

Sophomore Hattie Kuhns had a shot saved by Klein a couple minutes later, and a shot taken by Temple on its second corner of the game with 13:54 left was blocked.

UConn added its last goal with 1:46 remaining, as Veitner scored unassisted for the final tally of 7-3.

It was the final career game for many of the Owls, who boast a large senior class. Freeman made note of how valuable they've been as she concludes her first season coaching at Temple.

"The 10 seniors that will be graduating, they've each shown us how to act as visual aids, mentors and leaders on this team," she said.