Lacrosse Upsets No. 22/16 Denver in a BIG EAST Thriller, 10-9

Sunday, March 18

Howarth Field

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

6-3, 1-0BIG EAST

Denver

4-3, 0-1BIG EAST

Denver

Temple

Lacrosse Upsets No. 22/16 Denver in a BIG EAST Thriller, 10-9

3.18.18 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights

PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore Maryn Lowell made her 12th save of the game with 20 seconds remaining to help Temple lacrosse hold off #22/16 Denver (4-3, 0-1) in a 10-9 upset at Howarth Field on Sunday. The game was the BIG EAST Conference opener for both teams, with the Owls improving to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Keys to the Game
> After a couple games where free-position shots were not a strength for Temple, the Owls came up huge on their free-position opportunities against Denver.
> Six of Temple's 10 goals were on free-position opportunities, including five of six second-half goals.
> Denver out-shot Temple 38-22 overall but just 21-18 in shots on goal. Lowell, the reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, showed why as she made six saves in each half and also came up with two ground balls.
> Both senior Nicole Latgis and sophomore Kara Nakrasius recorded a game-high four caused turnovers in helping Temple's impressive defensive effort.
> The win was the first for Temple against a nationally ranked team since an 11-6 victory over #19 Delaware in 2015.

Individual Highlights
> Junior Amber Lambeth and sophomores Michelle Koscinski and Olivia Thompson all scored twice for the Owls, while senior Kira Gensler added two assists to one goal for a team-best three points.
> Sophomore Maddie Gebert, senior Toni Yuko and freshman Jackie Cerchio all notched one goal each, while freshman Bridget Whitaker tallied one assist.
> Latgis added to her four caused turnovers with four ground balls to lead Temple.

Game Summary
> The biggest run for either team was three goals, achieved just once by Temple to start the second half.
> The game was truly back-and-forth throughout, but the Owls never trailed in the final 38 minutes.
> Denver took a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes to go in the first half, but the Owls had it tied by halftime, 4-4.
> Koscinski scored her second goal at 23:22 of the second half to start the Owls' 3-0 run, and they led the rest of the way.
> In the final 10 minutes, Denver came within one goal on three occasions, the last on a Julia Feiss goal with 31 seconds left.
> Denver, who had 15 draw controls to Temple's six in the contest, controlled the final draw of the game but the Owls' defense held strong.
> There was a scramble near the goal after Lowell's final save with 20 seconds left, but neither team was able to truly gain possession before time expired.

Quotable
> "Everything about this game was great. We knew Denver is a great team that has been playing really great defense and powerful offense, and we had to bring our A game today. To be able to start our conference play with this win is exciting, but more importantly, the way we played today is what I am really excited about. They have been working really hard for two weeks to play a game for a complete 60 minutes, and we got that today.

"Our team was ready for Denver's pace of game and able to stay in the game for every minute. I think we are really starting to come together more as a team and learn how to really play together." - Temple head coach Bonnie Rosen

Up Next
> The Owls will be back at home for their second BIG EAST game, hosting Cincinnati at noon on Saturday, March 24.