Field Hockey Gets a Senior Day Win Over Lafayette, 3-1

Sunday, October 30

Howarth Field

2:00 p.m.

Temple University

(7-11)

Lafayette

(8-10)

Lafayette

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Field Hockey Gets a Senior Day Win Over Lafayette, 3-1

10.30.16 | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights Senior Day Video

PHILADELPHIA - On a day that saw Temple field hockey honor its four seniors for Senior Day, all played a crucial role in helping the Owls earn a 3-1 win against visiting Lafayette (8-10) in their final game of the regular season. Temple (7-11) got goals from two of its seniors in the victory, which gives the Owls some momentum heading into next week's BIG EAST Conference Tournament.

"This feels great for the momentum of our season and for the BIG EAST Tournament," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. "More than anything, it's great for our seniors. They've put in four years of excellent work ethic, and for us to get a win for them on this day was really important."

The Owls had strong performances all over the field, needing a solid defensive effort in addition to their three goals. Lafayette registered 11 total shots with six on goal, and freshman Maddie Lilliock came up with four saves in the cage for Temple. Freshman Becky Gerhart, already ranked second in the nation in defensive saves, added another and now has eight for the season.

As a standout in the midfield and backfield for the Owls all season long, it was a bonus for senior Paige Gross to score her first goal of the year on Senior Day. Gross got the Owls going in the 14th minute, connecting on a pass from Gerhart and finding the far left corner of the Lafayette cage.

Fellow senior Katie Foran, playing with a mask after taking a ball to the face nine days ago, scored her fifth goal of the year in the 28th minute to give Temple a 2-0 lead.

Foran's goal was set up by junior Maiyah Brown who beat most other players down the field on an attacking possession for Temple, and had her shot on goal saved by Katelyn Arnold before Foran found the rebound.

Brown would go on to finish with four shots on goal in the contest, consistently using her speed to be open in the circle.

"Maiyah and all of our forwards are continuing to use their speed a little bit more, and at the right times," said Freeman. "They're also being more complete players, not only focusing on their movement up front but also coming back and being more aggressive on defense. So we have a much wider arsenal with our attackers now because of that."

After the Owls took their 2-0 lead into the break, the Leopards got one back with less than two minutes elapsed in the second period. Kristen Taylor found the end of a long pass from teammate Ellen Colbourne and got Lafayette's only goal of the game.

Temple got its insurance goal 20 minutes later on a score that was again set up by Brown. Her shot rebounded off Arnold and junior Rachael Mueller was there to finish for her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Owls' defense held strong on seven Lafayette penalty corners, not allowing a single goal. Temple earned three corners of its own, but did not score any of its three goals on those opportunities.

Next up for the Owls is their BIG EAST Tournament semifinal game, set for 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 against No. 3 and top-seeded UConn. Temple, the tournament's fourth seed, will serve as the host of both semifinals and the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights l Senior Day Video