Women’s soccer hosts La Salle on Senior Day

On Sunday, Oct. 28, the women’s soccer team will honor their eight seniors on Senior Day as the Owls host city rival La Salle at the Ambler Sports Complex.

The final match of the 2012 regular season was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but has been moved to 11 a.m. because of uncertain weather later on Sunday.

While the Owls were officially knocked out of contention for the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament with a loss to Fordham on Friday, the Explorers are still fighting for the top seed in the A-10, as they currently sit on top in the standings above Dayton.

“La Salle still has a ton to play for,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “Any dent in their record will hurt their chances, and since this is a local game, it makes it that much more special.”

After a 3-0 loss on to Fordham on Friday, Oct. 26, the Owls will do whatever it takes to get a win for the eight departing seniors one last time, Gwilliam said.

“Sunday is definitely going to be a tough game,” freshman midfielder Paige Rachel said. “[La Salle] is a very good team and their record indicates it.”

Entering the final game of the season, the Owls will once again look to top their win total from 2011, as they are in search of their sixth win of the year. Temple will begin Sunday with a 5-12-2 record (2-6-0 in A-10), while La Salle will begin with a 14-4-0 record (8-0-0 in A-10).

“Hopefully we will come out flying,” Gwilliam said. “Our kids are really excited to play this game and we will leave nothing on the table.”

La Salle will enter Sunday winners of 11 of their last 12 matches, and have not lost a game on the road since Sept. 9.

“Hopefully just to have fun, and hopefully a win, but most importantly just to enjoy the last game together as a team,” senior defender Kate Yurkovic said she expects with her last game as an Owl.

-John Murrow

Women’s soccer hopes to keep season alive versus Fordham

Coming off a winless weekend on the road, the women’s soccer team will look to rebound in its final weekend of the season as the Owls take on Fordham at 3 p.m. at the Ambler Sports Complex Friday.

After two losses last weekend to Atlantic 10 Conference rivals Butler and Saint Louis, the Owls have not given up this season and have no plans to, freshman midfielder Paige Rachel said.

“Fordham is a very hard working, fit, and direct team,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “We match up with them very well and we will play our backs up against the wall.”

As the season is winding down to its final two matches, Temple has one last chance to make a bid for a spot in the A-10 tournament, as eight teams in the conference will head to Rhode Island on Nov. 1.

With two wins this weekend and a few losses for the teams above the Owls in the standings, all the chips will have to fall into place for Temple, Gwilliam said.

One player to watch for Fordham is senior forward Annie Worden, who has 14 career goals, five of which were game winning goals.

Last season, it was Ram’s forward Kristina Maksuti that scored the lone goal for Fordham in the 1-0 shutout over the Owls on Oct. 2, 2011.

Temple will enter Friday’s match with a 5-11-2 record (2-5-0 in A-10), while Fordham will begin play with a 7-10-0 record on the season (3-4-0 in A-10).

While the Owls will be looking for their third win in A-10 conference play, the Rams will be in search for their second win of the season while playing on the road, as Fordham is 1-5 as the away team this season.

With Friday’s game, the Owls will also look to grab their sixth win of the season, something the team has not done since 2010.

“[Temple] has not given up and we still have a lot to prove,” Rachel said.

-John Murrow

Women’s soccer plays on the road for last time this season

The women’s soccer team will play its final road match of the regular season when the Owls take on Saint Louis Sunday at 1 p.m.

Along with the Owls last match on the road, it will also be the last time the Billikens play at home at Saint Louis’s Hernmann Stadium.

After falling 2-1 in the final three minutes of Friday’s loss to Butler, the Owls will look to play consistent the entire game without making simple mistakes, coach Matt Gwilliam said.

“We are just going to go out there and try to get the win,” Gwilliam said.

The Owls seem to share the same offensive struggles that the Billikens have, as Saint Louis has notched nine goals this season, while Temple has notched 10.

Saint Louis junior forward has led the Billikens this season with two goals, two assists, six points and 26 shots.

Temple will enter the match with a 5-10-2 record this season (2-4-0 Atlantic 10 Conference), while Saint Louis will begin play with a 3-8-4 record (1-3-2 A-10).

Both Saint Louis and Temple are in need of a win in order to remain in the hunt for the A-10 tournament, as the Billikens currently sit 14th in the standings, while the Owls are 12th in the A-10 of the 16 teams in the conference.

“We are trying to get as many wins as possible so every match counts right now,” freshman defender Paula Jurewicz said.

-John Murrow

Women’s soccer play at Butler under the lights

The women’s soccer team will open its final road weekend of the regular season when the Owls take on new Atlantic 10 Conference opponent Butler Friday at 7 p.m in Indianapolis, Ind.

For the Owls, it will be their second game under the lights this season, as Temple dropped its first match 2-0 under the lights at Penn on Sept. 2. Along with playing under the lights, the Bulldogs will be honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with “Real Dawgs Wear Pink Night” at Butler.

“It is going to be a difficult game and Butler is a very good team,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “But we are ready for the challenge.”

The Owls will enter Friday’s match with a 5-9-2 record, 2-3-0 in A-10 play, while Butler will open with a 8-4-3 record, 2-1-2 against A-10 opponents. In nine matches at home, Butler has compiled a 6-1-2 record, while Temple is 2-5-1 on the road this season.

“Butler is a very organized team, a very physical team, a mentally strong team, and they create a good atmosphere at home,” Gwilliam said.

“I am expecting for us to go out there and get the win,” freshman defender Paula Jurewicz said.

-John Murrow

Women’s soccer hosts Rhode Island in A-10 play

The women’s soccer team will look to rebound from a 2-1 overtime loss against Rhode Island when the Owls take on Massachusetts on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. at Temple’s Ambler Sports Complex.

For the second time in the weekend, the Owls will face an Atlantic 10 Conference opponent, the fifth match in a row against an A-10 rival.

“They’re going to be very good and very athletic,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “They have a few special, special players that we have to take account for.”

One of those special players for Massachusetts is sophomore midfielder Moa Mattsson, who has scored eight of the team’s 15 goals on the season while recording three assists.

Following the home loss on Friday against Rhode Island, freshman goalkeeper Shauni Kerkhoff believes that Massachusetts may be a more difficult opponent than Rhode Island.

Temple will enter Sunday’s match with a 4-9-2 record (1-3-0 in A-10), while Massachusetts will enter with a 7-7-0 record (2-2-0 in A-10).

“We are going to go out there and hopefully get the win on Sunday,” sophomore defender Alyssa Kirk said.

John Murrow