PHILADELPHIA- Temple Men’s Soccer fell to 1-2-1 after losing their second game of the season due to the overtime heroics of Rider’s, Clement Bourret, who scored by launching the ball over the Owl’s goalkeeper, Alex Cagle, in the 94th minute of the game.
The Owls played a very physical contest with the Broncs as there were a combined 20 fouls between the two teams, with a yellow card handed out on each side. There was a lot of chirping back and forth after hard fouls and oftentimes during the game, even with a hard foul, the referees let them play on without a whistle.
Temple marginally out played Rider in the first two halves, as the defensive back line shut down any Rider opportunity. Senior defenseman, Mark Grasela, played a huge role in preventing any scoring opportunities from arising. As well as midfielders, Brendon Creed and Divin Fula Luzolo, who both did their part to get back on defense and keep the game in hand.
With the defense stopping anything in sight, they made life easy for the Owls goalkeeper, Alex Cagle. With only two shots on goal and one of those being the only goal of the game, Cagle and the Owls did not have to bat an eye at any Rider opportunity during the first 90 minutes of the game.
With 12 shots and 6 of them on goal, the Owls looked bound to break the defensive stalemate. With 4 minutes left in the first half, Senior forward, Joonas Jokinen was all alone with the goalkeeper and produced a nice shot, which was saved by the Rider goalkeeper, David Pastuna, who had 6 saves of his own and made life impossible for any Owl trying to score.
Sophomore forward, Thibault Candia, manufactured 4 shots in total, with 2 of them being on goal. As the main source of Temple’s scoring opportunities, Candia looked bound to break the game open. 58 minutes into the game, he had a great scoring opportunity but was fouled hard outside the box, and there was no call from the referee, creating a lot of confusion.
Even though the Owls outplayed the Broncs, missed opportunities turned into an early overtime goal for Rider to spoil Temple’s home opener and hand the Owls their second loss of the season.
The Owls will look to rebound next Saturday night, as they take on St. John’s at Belson Stadium in Queens, New York.
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