Temple Women's Soccer Opens the 2013 Season with a 2-0 Victory Over NJIT

Friday, August 23

Newark, NJ

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

1-0

NJIT

0-1

Temple

NJIT

Temple Women's Soccer Opens the 2013 Season with a 2-0 Victory Over NJIT

8.23.13 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – The Temple women's soccer team started the 2013 season off on a good note Friday night with a 2-0 victory over NJIT at Lubetkin Field. Freshman Ingrid Mello came up big in her first collegiate game by scoring both goals for the Owls.

"The coaching staff was very impressed with the maturity and game management for such a young squad," First year head coach Seamus O'Connor said. "The players managed the game very well and had control in the first half. They played together and supported each other. This was a great step forward for this team as they have built on what they started in the preseason."

Eight newcomers played their first game as a Temple Owl, including six freshmen. Among them, Ingrid Mello made her presence felt in her first start. She scored in each half to lift the Owls to the victory. Her first goal came in the 23rd minute as she went past two defenders and scored an unassisted goal. Her second insurance goal came in the 71st minute on a pass from Jillian DiBlasi.

Along with Mello, freshmen Clara Guenter, Morgan Elliot, Taylor Matsinger, Jillian DiBlasi and Elaine Byerley made their collegiate debuts against the Highlanders. Guenter and Elliot both started the game and recorded a shot.

Transfers Taylor Trusky and Kelly Farrell have already made an impact in their first game with the Owls. Trusky, from the University of Pittsburgh, and Farrell, from Old Dominion, both started the game.

Shauni Kerkhoff had a solid game in between the posts. She only had to face two shots on goal and made both saves. The stout defense of the Owls limited NJIT to nine total shots and did an effective job of keeping the ball away from the goalie Kerkhoff. The Highlanders could only muster out four shots after the second goal by Mello as Temple's defenders refused to let the Highlanders get back in the game.

Overall the Owls registered two more shots than the Highlanders with 11 total, including five of them on goal.

The victory is the second season opening win that the Owls have recorded in the last six year. The only other season opening win they have recorded in that span was in 2011 with a 1-0 victory at Iona.

The Owls look to build on the momentum created with Coach O'Connor's first win as Temple women's soccer head coach. They continue their weekend road trip with a game this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against Delaware State in Dover, Delaware. The game will be the season opener for the Hornets.