Women's Soccer Battles Lehigh to Scoreless Draw Under the Lights at Thursday Night Home Opener

Thursday, September 5

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

1-2-1

Lehigh

0-2-3

LEHIGH

Temple

Women's Soccer Battles Lehigh to Scoreless Draw Under the Lights at Thursday Night Home Opener

9.5.19 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University women's soccer team (1-2-1) fought the Lehigh Mountain Hawks tooth and nail for 110 minutes to a 0-0 draw (0-2-3) on Thursday evening in the team's 2019 debut at the Temple Sports Complex.

How it Happened
> After back-and-forth action in the beginning of the first half, the Owls generated several strong looks on goal. In the 24th minute Lehigh's back line misplayed the ball and sophomore Gabriela Johnson fired a shot but it was blocked by the Mountain Hawk defense. Junior Emma Wilkins gathered the rebound and launched a shot on goal, but it was blocked as well.
> The offensive opportunities for the Owls continued in the 29th minute. Senior Morgan Morocco won the battle for a 50-50 ball, raced up the field and found junior Marissa DiGenova. DiGenova levied a formidable shot, but it was corralled by Lehigh's Miranda Royds.
> Both teams came out firing in the second half. Wilkins rocketed a shot from the top of the 18 in the 46th minute, but Royds made a diving save to keep Temple off the board. A minute later, DiGenova threaded the ball to a streaking Wilkins, but the pass had too much pace.
> Senior Morgan Basileo was key in the net for the Owls, making big saves to keep Lehigh off the scoresheet. She came off her line multiple times to thwart threatening plays and stop the Mountain Hawks' momentum.
> After a minute-long scramble inside the 18 in the 73^rd minute, Johnson ripped a powerful shot towards net, but sent it just above the top right corner of the frame.
> DiGenova sent a long ball soaring through the Lehigh back line two minutes into the first overtime period that nearly crossed the goal line, but got cleared away by a Mountain Hawk defender.

Game Notes
> Offensive pressure fluctuated in both directions over the course of the match, with Lehigh firing off 17 shots compared to Temple's 14.
> Basileo came up big for the Owls, posting nine saves between the posts to earn her first clean sheet of the season.
> DiGenova led the Cherry and White in shots on the day with five, three of which she put on target. Trailing her was sophomore Gabriela Johnson, who took four shots with one on goal.
> Junior Arryana Daniels got the start at center back and logged her first minutes in the Cherry and White after transferring from Winthrop this fall.

From the Coach
> "I'm disappointed for the ladies—they wanted it a lot," said head coach Seamus O'Conner. "After Sunday's difficult match, we really challenged them in practice this week and performed well tonight. Our goalkeeper was unbelievable, she had some great saves and played as good as all season, I'm just disappointed because the ladies worked so hard and I just wanted them to get the win tonight, but the performance was what we wanted and we can build on it going into Villanova. We are looking forward to being back here at the TSC Sunday afternoon."

Up Next
> The Owls are set to host Philly-foe Villanova this Sunday, Sept. 8 in a 1 p.m. match-up at the Temple Sports Complex.