Men’s soccer drop first conference game

With growing failure to tie Cincinnati on the road, Temple University became increasingly frustrated.

The Owls couldn’t find a way into the final attacking third to get their last-minute shots off, and in the last 10 minutes, Temple committed four fouls and collected three cards: two yellows and a red.

The extra fouls and subsequent turnovers kept the Owls from making a comeback, and they lost, 1-0, to American Athletic Conference opponent Cincinnati on the road Saturday afternoon. This is Temple’s first loss in conference play this season.

Temple (3-5-2, 1-1 The American) ended the night with 19 fouls, the most it’s picked up in one game so far this season. Despite the season-high, the Owls ended with fewer fouls than the Bearcats, who had 22 by the end of the day.

Senior midfielder Hermann Doerner earned Temple’s first yellow of the day in the 87th minute. Then, with just 44 seconds remaining, junior midfielders Zach Brown and Leandros Lillis each received a card. Brown earned the yellow while Lillis picked up the red and had to exit the field, leaving the Owls down a man for the final seconds of the game.

Some of Temple’s frustration came from their lack of offensive output. The squad averages nine shots per game, but the Owls mustered just four shots throughout the game, only one of which was on goal.

Sophomore forward Justin Hahn led Temple with two shots, including the Owls’ only shot on goal. Brown and freshman forward Elias Hellgren Villegas recorded the other shots, with one each.The Owls only managed four shots on goal, a game after tallying 14.

Cincinnati’s offense didn’t fare much better than the Owls. The Bearcats scored early, in the sixth minute, but only recorded seven shots in total, three of which were on target.

Junior goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre couldn’t stop the first shot he faced, but went on to make two saves.

The Owls are now tied with four other teams in The American standings with three points and a 1-1 conference record.

Taking a short break from conference play, the Owls will travel to Newark, New Jersey where they will take on New Jersey Institute of Technology. This will be Temple’s eighth away game out of 11 so far this season.