Author Archives: Joey Cranney

Men’s soccer travels to Rider

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The men’s soccer team’s pursuit of a .500 record has gone back and forth. Tonight they will look to get back to that mark against winless Rider.

“[Rider] has struggled this year,” coach David MacWilliams said. “But we have to get back to playing the way we’re capable of.”

After starting out the season 1-1-1, the Owls dropped their next two games before winning back-to-back games. Their record stood at 3-3-1 before losing 1-0 to City 6 rival Villanova.

Perhaps the most alarming statistic is Temple’s inability to beat tough teams. The clubs that the Owls have beaten this year (Manhattan, St. Peter’s, and Howard) are a combined 2-23-1. The rest of Temple’s opponents are 27-16-2. Rider (0-7) resembles the type a team the Owls have had success against in 2012.

“We’re going up the their facility to take on a wounded animal, so to speak,” MacWilliams said.

Rider has been shutout three times so far in 2012. They’ve tallied just five goals in seven games. Last weekend against Penn they surrendered seven goals. The Rider roster features 12 freshmen.

The Owls will have a week off following tonight’s matchup. Atlantic 10 Conference play will get underway next Friday against St. Bonaventure, followed by Duquesne on Sunday.

Tonight’s game against Rider begins at 7 p.m. in Lawrenceville, N.J.

-Tyler Sablich

Volleyball hosts No. 20 Dayton

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Following a five-set upset of Atlantic 10 Conference power Xavier, the Owls retake their home court against No. 20 Dayton Saturday.

Temple is riding a seven game winning streak, all at home. They sit atop the conference at 3-0 tied with the Flyers in a match that pits an A-10 championship favorite against a surging underdog.

“We know what we need to do to compete with them,” coach Bakeer Ganes said last weekend. “Now we’re going to work on that in practice and see if we can execute that on the court, when game time comes.”

While undersized against the Musketeers on Friday, Temple will be even more behind in the height department against Dayton, who features 6-foot, 4-inch senior outside hitter Rachel Krabacher. Their game plan remains the same facing a much taller team, however.

“When it comes to the big teams we just have to cover our hitters,” junior outside hitter Gabriella Matautia said after the Xavier game. “Offensively we got to play smart. Use the block to tool it or hit around the block where you’ve got open court.”

-Jake Adams

Women’s soccer prepare for rivalry game

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The women’s soccer team will open Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 29, against visiting Saint Joseph’s University at the Ambler Sports Complex at 1 p.m.

“The mentality is that it’s all or nothing now,” junior defender Karly O’Toole said. “It is our time to show what we have worked so hard for in the off-season, summer, and so far this season.”

“We know it’s a city game and a great rivalry,” coach Matt Gwilliam said. “All of our kids know it too and we are extremely excited.”

After a 7-1 loss last season at St. Joe’s, the Owl’s will look to carry their winning record at home this season into Saturday’s game, Gwilliam said.

“We are trying to establish our home field as an unwelcoming place for opponents and we look to continue to get some of the same results that we have had,” Gwilliam said.

A St. Joe’s player to keep an eye on for Saturday’s match is junior forward/midfielder Mo Hawkins, who in last year’s match notched three goals on four shots and recorded an assist as well.

“Coach Gwilliam told us that we have two seasons,” freshman midfielder Katie Burgess said. “We are now beginning our second season as we begin A-10 play.”

Temple will enter Saturday’s match with a 3-6-2 record, while St. Joe’s will begin play with a 5-4-1 record. On the year, the Hawks are 3-3 on the road, while the Owls are 2-1-1 while at home.

“It’s payback time,” O’Toole said. “We do not need a pre-game talk to get excited for this game. After all that we went through last year, we want to show how much we have improved.”

-John Murrow

Volleyball hosts conference foe Xavier

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The Owls get their first serious test of the Atlantic 10 Conference season Friday when they host Xavier in McGonigle Hall.

Temple is riding a 6-0 streak at home, but the Musketeers are 2-0 in conference play and 9-7 overall, including tough losses to teams receiving votes in the polls.

The match could be a showcase of defense has the top liberos in the conference square off. Xavier senior Stephanie Vorherr is second in digs per set with 4.85 trailing only Temple’s senior Chelsea Tupuola who has 5.37 per set.

The team is ready for the challenge, where the Owls enter as an easy underdog, according to coach Bakeer Ganes.

“That’s very exciting and if you’re a competitor you want to see where you stand against these guys,” said Ganes about facing one of the conference’s top programs.

The match is set to start at 7 p.m.

–Jake Adams

Field hockey travels for Longwood

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After capping a two-win weekend this past Saturday and Sunday, the field hockey team will be taking a road trip south for a two game road trip.

On Friday, the Owls will be playing against Longwood (2-8) in Farmville, Va. at 7 p.m.

The Lancers have gotten off to a slow start this season, with their only wins against Ball State and Liberty.

But coach Amanda Janney said that Longwood has played some tough teams and deserves respect.

“[Longwood] is a team that we haven’t seen a lot,” Janney said. “[Longwood]’ s record isn’t great, but they have some very talent players on their team and their coaching staff is great.”

For Temple, seeing the Lancers this Friday will be a bit of a reunion. Former Temple goalkeeper Sarah Dalrymple is an assistant coach for Longwood.

“[Dalrymple] is doing a great job helping the program come around and their head coach Iain Byers is a very smart guy,” Janney said. “So I think it will be a very competitive game.”

The biggest threats for Temple on Friday will be sophomore forward Jessica Diaz and junior midfielder Stacy de Grandhomme. Both players are leading the team with six goals each, and Grandhomme has three assists as well.

The Owls will be looking for continued production from their young frontline featuring sophomore Amber Youtz and freshman Alyssa Delp.

This tandem has combined for 18 goals and six assists this season.

Temple has been averaging 5.7 goals per game over the past three games, and the Owls are hoping to keep the goals coming.

Janney said that she wants her team to come out on Friday strong.

“I just want us to come out on fire and keep the scoring going,” Janney said.

-Colin Tansits

Cross country gears up for Paul Short Invitational

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The women’s cross country team will return to action Friday afternoon at Lehigh University, as they participate in the 39th Annual Paul Short Invitational in the Brown 6k race at 1:00 p.m. The Owls are coming off a second-place finish at the Friend Invitational, a first-time event hosted by Temple in remembrance of the late Roswell Friend, a former member of the program.

Sophomore Jenna Dubrow’s dominance continued into her sophomore debut at the event, as she finished in first place. Last year, Dubrow had the highest placement ever by a Temple student at the Paul Short Invitational with a 40th place finish. First-year coach Adam Bray said he sees a bright future both this year and beyond for Dubrow.

“The sky is the limit for Jenna,” Bray said after the team’s first meet. “I think she’s a girl that can finish pretty well in the conference meet and hopefully she can finish well at the regional meet. Down the road she could be a national qualifier in cross country.”

“She’s starting to realize she has a special gift, and that she has to get everything out of herself to be successful,” Bray added.

Last week, the team utilized a similar strategy as the men, to not run full force until the very end of the race. This week, however, will be different, Bray said. 

“We’re not going to have that same race plan,” Bray said. “I want them to get in the mix a little more and see them race and compete. I’m not so much worried about the times. Each course is different, and you can’t always count on time. But I want to see them compete and beat people.”

Led by sophomore Cullen Davis, the men will look to build upon their first-place finish at the Friend Invitational, as they head to Lehigh University to take part in the Gold 8k race in the 39th Annual Paul Short Invitational at 11 a.m. Making his season debut in his final year with the team will be redshirt-senior Travis Mahoney. He was left out of last week’s race’s due to a number of factors.

“We sat down and talked and both agreed it’s best not to run his first week,” Bray said after the team’s first meet. “He had a little bit of a flu the week before, and I didn’t want to beat him up. He’s talented enough to qualify for the national meet and be an All-American. Beating him up early in the season isn’t going to help him later this year.”

Last week, the race plan was set for endurance and conservation. Only in the final minutes were the athletes to run at full strength. Like the women, the men will have a somewhat different race plan come Friday.

“I want the guys to get in there and mix it up and compete. The whole roster is talented, and they can do some talented things. We’re building momentum. If we continue to do that and stay healthy—I don’t know what place we’ll get, but the result will be good.”

Last year, Temple placed 44th as a team, and was led by now-sophomore Matthew Kacyon.

–Avery Maehrer

McManus earns second Big East Specialist honors

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Senior placekicker Brandon McManus was named Big East Specialist of the Week for his performance in Temple’s 24-13 loss to Penn State this weekend.

McManus kicked field goals of 33 and 42 yards against the Nittany Lions and punted six times for an average of 48.5 yards. He is Temple’s all-time leader in field goals and punt average.

McManus was also named Big East Specialist of the Week on Sept. 3 for his performance in the season opener against Villanova.

McManus is one of eight specialists in the country who handles all kicking duties for his team.

Martinelli earns back-to-back rookie honors

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Freshman midfielder Jared Martinelli was named the Atlantic 10 Conference and Philadelphia Soccer Six Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week.

Martinelli scored six points in games against Saint Peter’s and Howard last weekend with a pair of goals and assists. He scored five points in the previous week.

“We knew when we recruited [Martinelli] we knew he was a special player,” coach David MacWilliams said. “He’s been every bit of what we expected and more.”

“Contributing in such a big way has been unexpected,” Martinelli said. “Coming in I just wanted to start and be productive on the field.”

Martinelli has helped Temple (3-3-1) win two games in a row to climb back to .500 after losing two games in a row.

-Joey Cranney and Tyler Sablich

Youtz named A-10 Player of the Week

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With two hat tricks in two games this weekend, sophomore Amber Youtz was named as the Atlantic 10 Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week.

Youtz is currently ranked among the Top 15 in the NCAA Division I in both goals per game and points per game.

This award is a first for the forward from Dauphin, Pa. She leads the A-10 in goals (12) and points (30).

Youtz posted a total of 13 points this weekend in wins against Colgate and Bucknell. She also added an assist that led to a game-winning goal on Sunday.

-Colin Tansits

Volleyball hosts Fordham in A-10 play

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The volleyball team will be looking to keep a 12-set winning streak alive against visiting Fordham tonight, after coming off a straight-set sweep of Atlantic 10 Conference rival Rhode Island.

Temple opened up conference play Friday with a 3-0 victory against the Rams, despite a slow start that saw them fall behind 7-1 before rallying back. The team hopes they can get off to a quicker start against Fordham.

“Do not start off the way we started [against Rhode Island],” senior libero Chelsea Tupuola said. “Really focus in on that first game. Momentum does carry out throughout the rest of the games and sets, but we need to start off really strong, right then and there.”

Last year the Owls lost both meetings against the Rams, each by scores of 3-1. This time they just want to get out of the gates quickly.

“I think we’re going to come up with a new cheer, something, anything to get us pumped up,” junior outside hitter Elyse Burkert said.

-Jake Adams