Temple University Athletics
Thursday, August 25
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Lehigh
Photo by: Danny Boyle
Men’s Soccer Hosts Lehigh for Season Opener
8.23.22 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple men's soccer team will open the 2022 season on Thursday, Aug. 25 as the Lehigh Mountain Hawks come to the Temple Sports Complex. The 7 p.m. match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Attendance to the match will be free for all fans.
SEASON OPENER
> Thursday's match will serve as the 2022 season opener for both teams.
> After a truncated 2020 season that was completed in the Spring of 2021, last year was the first full season in NCAA soccer since 2019.
THE OWL POST
> This season will feature the return of a host of Temple players who missed most of, if not all of the 2021 slate. Those returning from injury include goalkeeper Eoin Gawronski, forward Sean Karani, midfielder Kemali Green, and others.
> Over the offseason, head coach Brian Rowland and his staff worked to reload the men's soccer roster with fresh talent. 17 newcomers join the squad this season, including three transfers that have earned All-Conference honors at other institutions.
> This season will feature the return of one of the best players of the Brian Rowland era in Lukas Fernandes. This time around though, Fernandes will return as an assistant coach on the sideline. After a career in Cherry and White that saw him earn second-team all-AAC honors twice, the forward spent three years in professional leagues around the US before he decided to return to North Broad as a coach to help guide his former program.
> The squad is led by Rowland, who is in his fifth season guiding Temple men's soccer.
SCOUTING LEHIGH
> 2021 was an interesting season for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh finished 5-11-2, with all five wins coming in conference play. Lehigh played a strong slate, featuring No. 3 Pitt, Big 10 opponent Rutgers, and No. 4 West Virginia. The Mountain Hawks tied West Virginia and fell to Pitt and Rutgers by only one goal each.
> Last season, Temple and Lehigh had three shared opponents in Manhattan, Rutgers, and Princeton. Lehigh lost to all three, while Temple defeated Manhattan and Princeton, and tied Rutgers 0-0 on the road.
> Lehigh was picked up finish 5th in the Patriot League Preseason poll. Forward Jack Sarkos was the lone Mountain Hawk to be named to the Patriot League All-Preseason team. Sarkos was named to first-team all-Patriot League at the conclusion of last season with eight goals and 16 points.
SERIES HISTORY vs. LEHIGH
> Temple is 9-9-2 in the all-time series against Lehigh.
> The two sides last met in 2006. Temple has lost three straight to Lehigh.
SEASON OPENER
> Thursday's match will serve as the 2022 season opener for both teams.
> After a truncated 2020 season that was completed in the Spring of 2021, last year was the first full season in NCAA soccer since 2019.
THE OWL POST
> This season will feature the return of a host of Temple players who missed most of, if not all of the 2021 slate. Those returning from injury include goalkeeper Eoin Gawronski, forward Sean Karani, midfielder Kemali Green, and others.
> Over the offseason, head coach Brian Rowland and his staff worked to reload the men's soccer roster with fresh talent. 17 newcomers join the squad this season, including three transfers that have earned All-Conference honors at other institutions.
> This season will feature the return of one of the best players of the Brian Rowland era in Lukas Fernandes. This time around though, Fernandes will return as an assistant coach on the sideline. After a career in Cherry and White that saw him earn second-team all-AAC honors twice, the forward spent three years in professional leagues around the US before he decided to return to North Broad as a coach to help guide his former program.
> The squad is led by Rowland, who is in his fifth season guiding Temple men's soccer.
SCOUTING LEHIGH
> 2021 was an interesting season for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh finished 5-11-2, with all five wins coming in conference play. Lehigh played a strong slate, featuring No. 3 Pitt, Big 10 opponent Rutgers, and No. 4 West Virginia. The Mountain Hawks tied West Virginia and fell to Pitt and Rutgers by only one goal each.
> Last season, Temple and Lehigh had three shared opponents in Manhattan, Rutgers, and Princeton. Lehigh lost to all three, while Temple defeated Manhattan and Princeton, and tied Rutgers 0-0 on the road.
> Lehigh was picked up finish 5th in the Patriot League Preseason poll. Forward Jack Sarkos was the lone Mountain Hawk to be named to the Patriot League All-Preseason team. Sarkos was named to first-team all-Patriot League at the conclusion of last season with eight goals and 16 points.
SERIES HISTORY vs. LEHIGH
> Temple is 9-9-2 in the all-time series against Lehigh.
> The two sides last met in 2006. Temple has lost three straight to Lehigh.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
