Emotions may still have been riding high for the men’s soccer team. After overcoming No. 21 Rhode Island on Friday in a dramatic overtime win, the Owls managed a 1-1 tie against the University of Massachusetts.
Yellow cards riddled the game, and a red card in overtime made things even more interesting as the game was called after 110 minutes of brute play. It was Temple’s (4-5-1, 1-0-1) first draw of the season.
Against the Minutemen, the Owls found themselves in their third straight game to head into overtime.
Previously, the Owls were forced to play extra minutes in a loss to Dartmouth and their cathartic victory over the Rams on Friday.
Coming into Sunday’s game, coach David MacWilliams knew it would not be easy.
“I thought that UMass came in very well organized,” he said. “They played a very well-disciplined game.”
The Owls controlled much of the first half. But UMass (3-5-3, 0-0-2) held its ground and created opportunities, keeping the game tight.
After a scoreless first half, Temple came out gunning. Just three minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Steven Wacker scored the first goal of the game to put the Owls up 1-0.
Then things got physical. In less than five minutes there were four yellow cards thrown by officials against both teams. MacWilliams and UMass coach Sam Koch were not pleased with their squads losing their cool. Fans got riled up too, as they pressed for the game to continue on.
Being down one goal and subjected to countless penalties, the Minutemen seemed frustrated. But UMass still played the ball well and kept pushing it deep into the Owls’ territory.
As the Owls tried to keep the second half under their control, Minuteman Oral Bullen knocked in a game-tying goal with less than 13 minutes to play.
“They got a result out of it,” said MacWilliams in reference to the Minutemen’s attacks. “I don’t think we played particularly well in the second half of the game.”
Two more yellow cards would fall, before the end of regulation and the game knotted up.
Prior to the overtime period Owls goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan led the team in the huddle and asked “Do you want to win?!” The senior has never shied from shouting his thoughts to his teamteammates.
The enthusiasm seemed appropriate for both teams.
Temple didn’t want to let the game slip away that was once theirs, and UMass wanted to continue its momentum. But all of that would have to wait for yet another yellow card charged to the Minutemen.
Tensions were very high at this point. Less than one minute after the game’s seventh yellow card, Owls defender Chad Baker was given a red card after a small skirmish between players. This now put the Owls down to 10 players on the field, one fewer than the required amount of 11.
“You know, to have a red card in this crucial part of the game…” MacWilliams said. “I just want to evaluate the tape to see if it was just or not.”
Despite the stalemate, the Owls may have set the tone within their conference.
Jerry Giannini can be reached at tua09335@temple.edu.
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