Field Hockey Takes Down Georgetown in BIG EAST Action, 4-1

Friday, September 30

Howarth Field

6:00 p.m.

Temple University

(3-8, 1-2BIG EAST)

Georgetown

(3-8, 0-3BIG EAST)

Georgetown

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Field Hockey Takes Down Georgetown in BIG EAST Action, 4-1

9.30.16 | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights

PHILADELPHIA - Behind two goals from freshman Maddie Merton, Temple field hockey took down BIG EAST foe Georgetown by a score of 4-1 on Friday evening at Howarth Field. The Owls (3-8, 1-2) had a three-goal second half to break a halftime tie and earn their first conference win.

Georgetown (3-8, 0-3) had an impressive outing from goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki with 16 saves as Temple's offense spent much of the game in the Owls' offensive circle. The game was lopsided throughout, with the Owls taking 21 shots on goal compared to just six for Georgetown.

"It feels great to come out on top tonight," said head coach Marybeth Freeman. "Not only was it a good win for us but it was a good overall team win. We had a lot of contributions from a lot of people, both on the field and off as our energy on the bench was great as well."

The Hoyas scored their only goal early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. Maria McDonald took a pass from the right wing from Helena Masiello and found an opening to get one past Temple goalkeeper Maddie Lilliock, but it would be her only blemish on the day.

In the 13th minute, Temple tied it up on a corner when Merton scored on a rebounded shot and save. Despite a number of opportunities for the Owls down the stretch of the first half, the teams went into halftime tied at 1-1.

"I think the biggest thing for us is really the composure piece," said Freeman about what she told the team during the break. "We had so many shots on goal which is fantastic, and the message at halftime was just to keep chipping away. We're ok, we're following the game plan. We just said to stay the course."

Just over six minutes into the second half, junior Rachael Mueller scored Temple's second goal much like the Owls had scored the first, on a rebound. The goal would prove to be the game-winner, Mueller's second in a row.

Temple's 2-1 lead was widened just six minutes later when Maiyah Brown hit a perfect strike from the right baseline that found an opening to give the Owls a two-goal cushion. With just over eight minutes left in the game, Merton added an insurance goal with a long ball from the top left of the circle that deflected off a Georgetown defender and into the cage.

Lilliock finished with five saves for Temple, and the Owls earned nine penalty corners to Georgetown's six.

Temple will be back in action for a non-conference game on Sunday, Oct. 2 as the Owls host Holy Cross in a 12:00 p.m. contest.

Box Score (PDF) l Video Highlights