Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Paige Ozaroski
A Year in Review: Men's Soccer
12.17.15 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA – For the Temple men's soccer team, the 2015 season proved to be the mark of a new beginning for the program. With a winning 10-7-2 record, a two-week run in the nation's top 25, and a six-game win streak to open the season, the Owls rebounded from a tough run in 2014 to record an impressive turnaround with a hopeful future.
"I think last year we struggled with the team's chemistry," said head coach David MacWilliams. "The guys were all committed and worked extremely hard this year. It was a huge team effort. From the beginning of preseason they came in and worked hard together."
With a tough non-conference schedule, the Owls rose to the occasion, going unbeaten through their first eight matches and finishing with an impressive non-conference record of 8-0-2. By logging wins against city rivals Villanova, Penn and La Salle, Temple men's soccer became the Philadelphia Soccer Six Co-Champions.
The Owls also logged an impressive win over #25 Penn State on Sept. 4 to mark the teams' first victory over a ranked opponent since 2010, and first over the Nittany Lions since 1997.
"The beginning of the season was great," said MacWilliams. "We played with a lot of emotions and won a lot of big games early in the year."
Temple's success in September led the team to its best program start since 1985, as well as its first national ranking since 1997. Following the Owls' victories over Rider and Yale in September, the NSCAA ranked Temple #23 in the nation for the week of Sept. 15. The following week, the Owls jumped six spots to #16 before suffering their first loss to conference opponent Cincinnati on the road on Sept. 26.
The Owls welcomed their third consecutive top 50 class of recruits for this season. Belal Mohamed, a true freshman from Allentown, Pa., made 14 starts and ended the season as the team leader in assists (6) and ranking second on the team in total points (12). Mohamed scored his first career goal in the Owls' match against La Salle and first career assist against Rider. For his efforts, Mohamed was named to the American Athletic Conference regular-season All-Rookie Team, as well as earning Rookie of the Week honors from the conference for the week of Oct. 12.
Two more Owls earned regular season all-conference honors, with newcomers Jorge Gomez Sanchez and Carlos Moros Gracia being named to the conference's second team. Both hailing from Spain, Gomez Sanchez and Moros Gracia made strong impacts on both ends of the field in their debut seasons.
"Carlos is definitely another bright spot," said MacWilliams. "He anchored the back of the defense and did a tremendous job for us back there. Jorge started off the season unbelievably. He got injured at the beginning of conference play and I'm not sure if he even really recovered. He scored a lot for us and was really successful in his first year."
Gomez Sanchez led the team in 2015 with 13 goals, five assists and 31 total points in 18 matches. These impressive marks have placed Gomez Sanchez in the program's record books where he currently ranks in a tie for fifth in goals scored in a single season. He also ranks in a tie for sixth among all Owls in total points in a single season. Gomez Sanchez made his mark on the national stage as well, leading the nation in total points on Sept. 28 when he had tallied 25 points through eight matches. In the conference, Gomez Sanchez finished the season leading in every overall category outside of assists and assists per game.
For his efforts throughout the season, Gomez Sanchez was recognized by the conference as the Offensive Player of the Week twice (Sept. 14, Sept. 21) and was mentioned on the honor roll in three separate weeks (Aug. 31, Sept. 28, Oct. 26). Outside of the conference, Gomez Sanchez was named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Player of the Week in three separate weeks (Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Oct. 26). He was also mentioned as a part of the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 21. ECAC and Philly Soccer News also recognized Gomez Sanchez for his efforts with player of the week honors. Gomez Sanchez was named the Under Armour Owlsports.com Co-Athlete of the Month in September.
Moros Gracia logged three goals and one assist in 2015. He led the team in total minutes played with 1766 and was one of three Owls to start in all 19 matches. As an orchestrator of the Owls' defensive line, Moros Gracia played a key role in a defense that allowed only eight goals in non-conference games.
The conference recognized Moros Gracia as the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7 and Sept. 21, as well as placing him on the weekly honor roll on Oct. 19 and 26. Following his goal in the Owls' second matchup against Cincinnati on Oct. 24, the Philadelphia Soccer Six named Moros Gracia the Defender of the Week.
In every week of play this season, at least one Owl was recognized by the conference or Philadelphia Soccer Six. Collectively, 11 separate Owls earned weekly honors.
There were 31 total goals for the Owls in 2015, with 12 players finding the back of the net. A total of 14 Owls recorded assists for 35 total and 97 total points as a team.
With only four players and one starter graduating from the program, the Owls will return a majority of their starting lineup for the 2016 season.
"We had seven new starters this year and to come away with the season we did is a great credit to the guys and the work they put it in," said MacWilliams. "To have most of the guys back next year and a large upper class is very exciting. I am really looking forward to next season and I think it's going to be a great year."
Despite its history-making non-conference success, Temple men's soccer recorded only two wins against conference opponents in 2015. The Owls logged only 10 goals across their eight conference match-ups and ended the run with a 4-0 loss against UConn in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
"We have some unfinished business," said MacWilliams. "We lost a little confidence and our scoring touch. Earlier in the year we proved we could compete with anybody. There were so many games we should have won if we would have finished our chances. It's clear that if you don't finish those chances it really comes back to hurt you."
With 2015 marking the sixth 10-win season for coach MacWilliams, and third in the past four seasons, the Owls set their sights on a competitive and successful run in 2016.
"I think last year we struggled with the team's chemistry," said head coach David MacWilliams. "The guys were all committed and worked extremely hard this year. It was a huge team effort. From the beginning of preseason they came in and worked hard together."
With a tough non-conference schedule, the Owls rose to the occasion, going unbeaten through their first eight matches and finishing with an impressive non-conference record of 8-0-2. By logging wins against city rivals Villanova, Penn and La Salle, Temple men's soccer became the Philadelphia Soccer Six Co-Champions.
The Owls also logged an impressive win over #25 Penn State on Sept. 4 to mark the teams' first victory over a ranked opponent since 2010, and first over the Nittany Lions since 1997.
"The beginning of the season was great," said MacWilliams. "We played with a lot of emotions and won a lot of big games early in the year."
Temple's success in September led the team to its best program start since 1985, as well as its first national ranking since 1997. Following the Owls' victories over Rider and Yale in September, the NSCAA ranked Temple #23 in the nation for the week of Sept. 15. The following week, the Owls jumped six spots to #16 before suffering their first loss to conference opponent Cincinnati on the road on Sept. 26.
The Owls welcomed their third consecutive top 50 class of recruits for this season. Belal Mohamed, a true freshman from Allentown, Pa., made 14 starts and ended the season as the team leader in assists (6) and ranking second on the team in total points (12). Mohamed scored his first career goal in the Owls' match against La Salle and first career assist against Rider. For his efforts, Mohamed was named to the American Athletic Conference regular-season All-Rookie Team, as well as earning Rookie of the Week honors from the conference for the week of Oct. 12.
Two more Owls earned regular season all-conference honors, with newcomers Jorge Gomez Sanchez and Carlos Moros Gracia being named to the conference's second team. Both hailing from Spain, Gomez Sanchez and Moros Gracia made strong impacts on both ends of the field in their debut seasons.
"Carlos is definitely another bright spot," said MacWilliams. "He anchored the back of the defense and did a tremendous job for us back there. Jorge started off the season unbelievably. He got injured at the beginning of conference play and I'm not sure if he even really recovered. He scored a lot for us and was really successful in his first year."
Gomez Sanchez led the team in 2015 with 13 goals, five assists and 31 total points in 18 matches. These impressive marks have placed Gomez Sanchez in the program's record books where he currently ranks in a tie for fifth in goals scored in a single season. He also ranks in a tie for sixth among all Owls in total points in a single season. Gomez Sanchez made his mark on the national stage as well, leading the nation in total points on Sept. 28 when he had tallied 25 points through eight matches. In the conference, Gomez Sanchez finished the season leading in every overall category outside of assists and assists per game.
For his efforts throughout the season, Gomez Sanchez was recognized by the conference as the Offensive Player of the Week twice (Sept. 14, Sept. 21) and was mentioned on the honor roll in three separate weeks (Aug. 31, Sept. 28, Oct. 26). Outside of the conference, Gomez Sanchez was named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Player of the Week in three separate weeks (Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Oct. 26). He was also mentioned as a part of the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 21. ECAC and Philly Soccer News also recognized Gomez Sanchez for his efforts with player of the week honors. Gomez Sanchez was named the Under Armour Owlsports.com Co-Athlete of the Month in September.
Moros Gracia logged three goals and one assist in 2015. He led the team in total minutes played with 1766 and was one of three Owls to start in all 19 matches. As an orchestrator of the Owls' defensive line, Moros Gracia played a key role in a defense that allowed only eight goals in non-conference games.
The conference recognized Moros Gracia as the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7 and Sept. 21, as well as placing him on the weekly honor roll on Oct. 19 and 26. Following his goal in the Owls' second matchup against Cincinnati on Oct. 24, the Philadelphia Soccer Six named Moros Gracia the Defender of the Week.
In every week of play this season, at least one Owl was recognized by the conference or Philadelphia Soccer Six. Collectively, 11 separate Owls earned weekly honors.
There were 31 total goals for the Owls in 2015, with 12 players finding the back of the net. A total of 14 Owls recorded assists for 35 total and 97 total points as a team.
With only four players and one starter graduating from the program, the Owls will return a majority of their starting lineup for the 2016 season.
"We had seven new starters this year and to come away with the season we did is a great credit to the guys and the work they put it in," said MacWilliams. "To have most of the guys back next year and a large upper class is very exciting. I am really looking forward to next season and I think it's going to be a great year."
Despite its history-making non-conference success, Temple men's soccer recorded only two wins against conference opponents in 2015. The Owls logged only 10 goals across their eight conference match-ups and ended the run with a 4-0 loss against UConn in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
"We have some unfinished business," said MacWilliams. "We lost a little confidence and our scoring touch. Earlier in the year we proved we could compete with anybody. There were so many games we should have won if we would have finished our chances. It's clear that if you don't finish those chances it really comes back to hurt you."
With 2015 marking the sixth 10-win season for coach MacWilliams, and third in the past four seasons, the Owls set their sights on a competitive and successful run in 2016.
Players Mentioned
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