Late Goal Lifts Field Hockey to 3-2 Win Against City Rival Saint Joseph's

Monday, September 7

Geasey Field

3:00 p.m.

Temple University

(2-2)

Saint Joseph's

(2-2)

Saint Joseph's

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Late Goal Lifts Field Hockey to 3-2 Win Against City Rival Saint Joseph's

9.7.15 | Field Hockey

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - With less than three minutes remaining, junior Paige Gross scored on a cross from sophomore Hattie Kuhns to lift Temple field hockey to a 3-2 win over visiting Saint Joseph's on Monday afternoon at Geasey Field. It was the first home win of the 2015 season for the Owls (2-2), who were able to answer in the 68th minute after the Hawks (2-2) had tied the game in the 65th minute.

"We definitely could have put a better foot forward (in Friday's loss) against Penn State, and I think our players knew that," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. "So for this game, for us, it was really important to be able to showcase what we're capable of doing. Did we do that? No, not so much in the first half. In the second half we made some adjustments, and there are some stats not in our favor, but that said we'll keep working to fine-tune things for Delaware."

The contest between the city rivals was a heated one, especially down the stretch as a total of four green cards and three yellow cards were handed out in the second half.

Temple's defense was forced to withstand seven Saint Joseph's penalty corners in just the first 15 minutes of the game, but the Owls kept it scoreless. Senior goalkeeper Haley Mitchell made three saves in that stretch and finished with six in the game.

Soon after the Owls began to find their own attack, they were able to strike first. Temple earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 21st minute, and scored on the second one. Senior Sarah Deck took the shot and put it in the back of the cage with assists from seniors Tricia Light and Rachel Steinman on the direct corner.

The pace of the attack slowed for both teams for most of the rest of the half. Temple was unable to convert on its next corner opportunity, but the Hawks earned their next one with less than two minutes to go in the half and made it count. On a rebounded shot and save after the direct corner, SJU's Emily Nonnemacher found a hole and tied the game just before halftime.

Seven minutes into the second period, Temple was awarded a penalty stroke. Senior Alyssa Delp got the nod, and she placed it into the right corner past SJU goalkeeper Amelia Deibler.

As the game heated up physically, the Owls held onto their slim lead for the next 22 minutes of action. With just under six minutes left, the Hawks' Monica Tice broke through the Owls' backline and tied the game.

Temple quickly went back on the attack and was able to win in regulation thanks to a well-placed cross pass from Kuhns to Gross, who knocked it into the cage for the game-winner.

The win was the first at home for the team this season, and the first for Freeman and her staff. "It's great," she said. "It's great for the whole staff. I think we're very diligent in what we're asking our players to do, and our expectations are high but realistic. I was happy to be able to see that come to fruition with the things we've been working on, and I think that the players have bought in too. This was a great first win at home for our 2015 season."

The Owls will be back on the road for their next game, heading to region rival Delaware for a 7:00 p.m. contest on Friday, Sept. 11. Temple will return home Sunday at 1:00 p.m. to take on Penn.

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