Women’s Soccer Wins Conference Opener 1-0 Over ECU

Thursday, September 28

Temple Sports Complex

6:00 PM

Temple University

5-4-1

ECU

5-5-2

ECU

Temple

Women’s Soccer Wins Conference Opener 1-0 Over ECU

9.28.17 | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score Video Highlights

PHILADELPHIA - In a huge opening conference match, Temple (5-4-1) ended up getting a 1-0 victory over ECU (5-5-2). It was senior midfielder Elana Falcone who got the deciding goal in the second half for the Owls. The win marks Temple's fourth win in a row at home, which is the most since the 2015 team accomplished this.
Keys to the Match
>In the 30th minute of the match, sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Basileo made two incredible back-to-back saves to help keep the first half scoreless.
>Early in the second half, Falcone placed a shot from the top of the box beautifully in the top right corner off an assist from Kayla Cunningham to put the Owls up 1-0.
>Temple kept the pressure on in the second half and outshot ECU 7-5, enabling them to hold on to the 1-0 lead.

Match Notes
>Temple has now won four straight matches at home. A win next Sunday at home vs. Cincinnati would be the most consecutive home wins by a team in program history.
>This win gave Temple its first victory over ECU.
> Basileo now has four shutouts this season in just six starts.
>With her goal in the second half, Falcone now moves into a three way tie for most goals on the team with senior forward Gabriella McKeown and junior forward Kerri McGinley with three.
>Cunningham picked up her third assist of the season which ties her for the team lead with sophomore midfielder Emily Keitel.

Quotable
"I'm very happy because that was a tough opponent to start the conference with," said Temple head coach Seamus O'Connor. "The girls really played well, they stuck together and really grew as a team tonight. Our seniors stepped up in a big way, and our captain also did very well at keeping the team focused to win this tough conference matchup."

"The defense played great tonight" said O'Connor "Between the goalie, the defensive backs and the midfielders, it was a total team effort and they deserve a lot of credit for their performance tonight."

"Im very happy with Elana Falcone," said O'Connor "She has such a beautiful strike and we've been trying to get her into positions where she is able to score like tonight because she's been such a key to our defense and has been selfless in giving up looks at goal."

Up Next
>Temple will host its second conference game of the season this Sunday vs. Cincinnati with a 1 p.m. start time.