Martinelli and Polley named to conference honor roll

Junior midfielder/forward Jared Martinelli and redshirt freshman forward Miguel Polley were both named to the American Athletic Conference’s weekly honor roll this past week for their performances in a 2-0 victory against Cincinnati Saturday.

Martinelli scored the opening goal of the match in the first 10 minutes, recording his second goal of this season. He last scored in a 2-2 draw at La Salle on Sept. 13.
Polley, who flicked a back heel to Martinelli on that first goal, recorded a second assist when he flicked a ball to redshirt senior Chas Wilson, who calmly finished his chance to give the Owls a two-goal lead at the 48:56 mark during the second half.
The Detroit, Michigan native now has one goal and three assists this fall. Coach David MacWilliams talked about why Polley is able to facilitate so well in the midfield.
“Miguel’s a very talented player,” MacWilliams said. “[He] has that ability where he can slip people and he’s clever on the ball … he knew exactly where Jared was, he flicked it, and Jared did the rest, so it was a great combination.”
Temple travels to Tampa, Florida to face the University of South Florida at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Three Owls earn honors for men’s soccer

Roughly 24 hours before the men’s soccer team’s first round Atlantic 10 Conference tournament commences, three Owls have earned conference honors.

Freshman midfielder Jared Martinelli was named A-10 Conference Rookie of the Year and made the All-Rookie Team. Martinelli’s 28 points this year ranks 8th all-time in a season for Temple. He is Temple’s first A-10 Rookie of the Year since Chris Cotton won in 1990. With nine goals and 10 assists, Martinelli is one goal away from becoming Temple’s first 10-goal/10-assist scorer in program history.

Other postseason awards amassed by Temple came in the form of senior midfielder Cody Calafiore and junior midfielder Vaughn Spurrier.

Calafiore has been tabbed to the All-Conference second team. Back in 2010, he was named to the All-Conference first team. In 2012, Calafiore ranks second on the team in points with 14 – four goals and six assists.

Spurrier has been named to the A-10 All-Academic team for the first time in his collegiate career after amounting a 3.65 grade point average in biophysics. He and Martinelli have combined for the most assists in a single season in Temple history with 20 helpers.

Fresh off their newly announced achievements, the Owls will face No. 19 Virginia Commonwealth University Thursday at 5 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C. in the first round of the A-10 Tournament. Temple will have a tough task containing junior forward Jason Johnson. Johnson was named A-10 Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 32 points — 13 goals and six assists.

-Tyler Sablich