Last Minute Leandros Lillis Goal Lifts Men's Soccer Over ODU, 1-0

Tuesday, October 1

Philadelphia, Pa.

3:00 PM

Temple University

3-5

Old Dominion

1-6-1

ODU

Temple

Last Minute Leandros Lillis Goal Lifts Men's Soccer Over ODU, 1-0

10.1.19 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Overtime seemed imminent on Tuesday afternoon at the Temple Sports Complex until a 90th minute Cherry and White goal lifted the Temple men's soccer team (3-5, 0-1 AAC) over Old Dominion (1-6-1, 0-2-1 C-USA), 1-0. Leandros Lillis was the hero for the Owls when he buried the game-winner with 55 seconds left on the clock off a cross from Lukas Fernandes, handing Temple its third-straight victory at the Temple Sports Complex.

How it Happened
> Temple applied high offensive pressure early in the match, driving the ball up the field to create a threatening chance just six minutes into play. Fernandes dribbled through traffic to set himself up for a solid chance on goal, but the shot aimed at the right pocket went just wide and ricocheted off the post to keep the match scoreless.
> ODU responded to Temple's near goal with their first real chance of the game in the 13th minute. The Monarchs found an open target as Sebastien Hauret was anxiously waiting in the six yard box, but senior goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre cut off the angle for Hauret and forced the shot wide left.
> The remainder of the first half was a defensive possession battle as each team fired off just two shots apiece in the first 45 minutes of action. The last chance of the half for the Owls came in the 42nd minute off a drive from sophomore Jalen Campbell, who fired off the lone shot on goal of the half but ODU's Oliver Padilla made the save.
> The second half saw early action with back-to-back chances for Temple in the 52nd and 55th minutes. First, Esteban Suarez lofted in an in-swinging corner kick that junior captain Pierre Cayet got on the receiving end of but headed just wide. Three minutes later, Fernandes set himself up for a header on frame but just barely missed net.
> It looked as though the Owls had won it in the 85th minute when Lillis sent the ball in to Sean Karani, who slipped it past the ODU keeper but was ultimately called offsides.
> The Cherry and White offensive pressure was rewarded soon after as Lillis notched the game-winner with just 55 seconds left on the game clock. Fernandes received the ball on the left side of box and lofted a far post cross, finding Lillis waiting to tap it in and seal the deal for the Owls.

Game Notes
> Lillis' goal was the first of his career, adding to the two assists he notched during the 2018 season. Fernandes' assist was his first of the season and the fifth of his career, pushing him higher on the Temple leaderboard with five points on the season (2g, 1a).
> Lefebvre moves to 3-5 in net as he earned his third shutout of the season. The victory was Lefebvre's and the rest of the Owls' third-straight shutout win at home and the senior improved his goals against average to 1.00. On the day, Lefebvre notched three saves to bring his season total to 26.
> The Owls move to .500 against the Monarchs, evening the series to 2-2. Temple has now won two-straight over Old Dominion, with last year's goal coming in overtime and this year's with one minute left in regulation.

From the Coach
> "The guys really gutted out the performance today," said head coach Brian Rowland. "This game is always tricky, between two conference games, with the traveling and playing at a tough opponent on Friday, and also being down a man. There's a lot of reasons why we were probably a bit sluggish at moments in the game, and I thought we looked it. But credit to the guys, they battled through it, they didn't quit, they found ways to create chances. I thought we had a few good looks in that second half, and we found a way to score.
> It's a positive sign when you're not at your best and you still find ways to win games. That's the name of the game right now, to find wins, and we were able to do that today. I'm happy for the group."

Up Next
> The Owls look to extend their home win streak to four on Saturday, Oct. 5 when they host Cincinnati for their first home American Athletic Conference battle. Kickoff at the Temple Sports Complex is set for 7:00 p.m.