Temple University Athletics
Friday, August 19
Temple Sports Complex
7:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Drexel
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Women's Soccer Faces Drexel at Home Friday; Travels to Delaware State on Sunday
8.17.16 | Women's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA – Temple women's soccer will open the 2016 season on Friday at home, playing the team's first ever game in newly built Temple University Sports Complex. The Owls host Drexel on Friday at 7 p.m. as part of a two-game weekend that also includes Temple traveling to Delaware Sate on Sunday for a 1 p.m. start.
The Owls and Head Coach Seamus O'Connor are excited to start their season at home on their new home field and O'Connor said that facing a city rival only adds to that experience.
"Having a City Six rival as an opponent also adds a little to the intensity of the game so we hope that we put on a good performance for everyone on Friday," O'Connor said.
Entering his fourth season, O'Connor is undefeated in season openers (3-0), while the program hasn't lost a season opener since 2010.
For Temple, there will be a lot of new faces on the field as the team has half of their 2015 roster returning for the 2016 campaign. O'Connor expects a lot of contributions from the teams 13 newcomers this year.
"We have a lot of newcomers but it is definitely the most talented group we have had in a while," O'Connor said. "I expect two or three of them to be major contributors in terms of starting or playing major minutes. In addition a few more should be regular contributors off the bench."
Of those newcomers, there are 11 freshman, including the former U17 England Ladies captain, Fran Davis and local product Jules Blank. Davis signed with the team after the spring season. Blank is the all-time leading goal scorer from Archbishop Ryan, just a few miles from Temple.
The group also includes two transfer students in Cydney Niedermeyer and Kerri McGinley. Niedermeyer comes to the Owls from Nova Southeastern University and McGinley from Marist College.
Drexel comes into the season after a 9-9 season and 3-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dragons are returning 20 players from their 2015 roster, including sophomore Vanessa Kara who was selected to the Preseason All-CAA Team. In her freshman season, Kara started all 18 games in 2015, while scoring 11 goals, three assists, and 25 points.
Delaware State comes into this weekend under their first-year head coach Kortney Rhoades. Rhoades, a 2012 graduate from South Carolina, was an assistant coach at Division II Colorado Mesa. Last season, the Hornets finished the 2015 season 8-9-3, while winning their second straight Independent Conference Tournament Championship.
The Hornets welcome back 19 letter winners, including the team's 2015 points leader, Danielle Valente. Valente finished the 2015 starting all 20 games and tallying up five goals, two assists, and 12 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES…
Temple and city foe, Drexel have faced off 14 times, with the Owls leading the series 8-5-1. The teams last met in 2014 when Temple won 3-2.
Temple holds a 5-0 series record over Delaware State. The Owls beat the Hornets 5-0 in the team's second game last season.
UP NEXT…
The Owls will stay on the road next weekend as they face off against Big 5 rival, LaSalle. The Owls and Explorers are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday August 28.
The Owls and Head Coach Seamus O'Connor are excited to start their season at home on their new home field and O'Connor said that facing a city rival only adds to that experience.
"Having a City Six rival as an opponent also adds a little to the intensity of the game so we hope that we put on a good performance for everyone on Friday," O'Connor said.
Entering his fourth season, O'Connor is undefeated in season openers (3-0), while the program hasn't lost a season opener since 2010.
For Temple, there will be a lot of new faces on the field as the team has half of their 2015 roster returning for the 2016 campaign. O'Connor expects a lot of contributions from the teams 13 newcomers this year.
"We have a lot of newcomers but it is definitely the most talented group we have had in a while," O'Connor said. "I expect two or three of them to be major contributors in terms of starting or playing major minutes. In addition a few more should be regular contributors off the bench."
Of those newcomers, there are 11 freshman, including the former U17 England Ladies captain, Fran Davis and local product Jules Blank. Davis signed with the team after the spring season. Blank is the all-time leading goal scorer from Archbishop Ryan, just a few miles from Temple.
The group also includes two transfer students in Cydney Niedermeyer and Kerri McGinley. Niedermeyer comes to the Owls from Nova Southeastern University and McGinley from Marist College.
Drexel comes into the season after a 9-9 season and 3-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dragons are returning 20 players from their 2015 roster, including sophomore Vanessa Kara who was selected to the Preseason All-CAA Team. In her freshman season, Kara started all 18 games in 2015, while scoring 11 goals, three assists, and 25 points.
Delaware State comes into this weekend under their first-year head coach Kortney Rhoades. Rhoades, a 2012 graduate from South Carolina, was an assistant coach at Division II Colorado Mesa. Last season, the Hornets finished the 2015 season 8-9-3, while winning their second straight Independent Conference Tournament Championship.
The Hornets welcome back 19 letter winners, including the team's 2015 points leader, Danielle Valente. Valente finished the 2015 starting all 20 games and tallying up five goals, two assists, and 12 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES…
Temple and city foe, Drexel have faced off 14 times, with the Owls leading the series 8-5-1. The teams last met in 2014 when Temple won 3-2.
Temple holds a 5-0 series record over Delaware State. The Owls beat the Hornets 5-0 in the team's second game last season.
UP NEXT…
The Owls will stay on the road next weekend as they face off against Big 5 rival, LaSalle. The Owls and Explorers are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday August 28.
Players Mentioned
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