Men’s soccer hosts final regular season game

The men’s soccer team’s regular season finale against St. Joseph’s University will be looked at to gain momentum and confidence heading into the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament next weekend.

“You want to keep moving forward and you want to keep winning games,” coach Dave MacWilliams said. “We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’ve talked to the guys and we know they’re ready for it.”

The Owls, who are currently 9-5-3 with an in-conference record of 5-1-2, will honor their four seniors before tomorrow’s match-up. Midfielders Cody Calafiore, Homero Rodriquez and Andrew Dodds, along with defender Billy Kappock, will be sent off properly in their final regular season game as Owls.

“The toughest thing for me as a coach is that you develop relationships with four quality young men,” MacWilliams said. “All of a sudden it’s over, and it goes quick. I keep preaching that four years of college really go quick, so you want to try and make the best of it.”

Temple currently ranks fourth in the A-10. If play had ended today, the Owls would be taking on No. 17 Xavier in the first round of the tournament. But first, MacWilliams has his focus set on tomorrow’s City 6 match.

“I watched [St. Joe’s] play and they’re a pretty competitive team,” MacWilliams said. “Although they haven’t gotten the results, they’ve played some quality soccer.”

Tomorrow’s finale against the Hawks, who are ranked dead last in the A-10, will begin at 1 p.m.

-Tyler Sablich