Women’s Soccer Battles Hard Against #21 UConn But Falls 1-0

Saturday, October 22

Temple Sports Complex

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

3-14 (0-7AAC)

UConn

14-2-1 (6-0-1AAC)

UCONN

Temple University

Women’s Soccer Battles Hard Against #21 UConn But Falls 1-0

10.22.16 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA – Temple women's soccer showed its best effort of the season as the team dropped its last home game, 1-0 to the nationally ranked #21 UConn Huskies.

Temple drops to 3-14 (0-7 American) on the year and the Huskies improve to 14-2-1 (6-0-1 American).

The Owls started off the game with some big played on defense. During the 22^nd minute, sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Nash came toward the top of the box to make a diving save. Nash batted the ball away and there was a second chase opportunity for the Huskies. Freshman defender Emily Keitel stepped back inside the six-yard box and made a critical save to keep the game scoreless. Temple would keep the game scoreless heading into the half.

During the 75^th minute of the game, the Owls committed a foul inside the box, which awarded UConn a penalty kick opportunity. The Huskies elected leading goal scorer Stephanie Ribeiro to take the kick. Ribeiro kicked a hard ball on the ground in the left corner that just went past a diving Nash.

Nash finished the day with six saves on 25 shots faced and the lone goal against.

Before the Saturday afternoon match, Temple honored its four graduating seniors Elaine Byerley, Taylor Matsinger, Cydney Niedermeyer and Paige Rachel.

As her eyes started to tear up and her last Temple home game was over, Byerley was filled with appreciation for her teammates.

"It's great that we got to finish off on such a hard played game," Byerley said. "Everybody gave it their all and it means so much to me that they showed up for me, even though UConn is such a great team.

Head coach Seamus O'Connor reiterated Byerley's comments on the team's performance.

"It was a great reflection on the character of this group on senior day," O'Connor said. "I think that tells you a lot about the girls and the respect they have for the seniors. It was a good senior day for those young ladies"

Temple still has two games left on the season and will head down south to take on the East Carolina Pirates. That match is scheduled for Thursday October 27 at 7 p.m.