Temple entered Sunday’s match with a four-game losing streak against Central Florida.
Breaking the streak was necessary. The Owls had to stay alive in the American Athletic Conference postseason race.
The Knights, ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, allowed their first goal against Temple since 2013, but coasted to a 4-1 victory in Orlando, Florida. Temple (6-9-2, 2-5-1 The American) is no longer in contention for the postseason in The American.
“The girls played great and kept fighting all the way through,” coach Seamus O’Connor said. “Unfortunately we just don’t have the same depth that [Central Florida] has.”
Senior midfielder Kayla Adamek scored twice in the second half to net her ninth and 10th goals of the season. The Owls were outshot 16-8 in the contest. Senior forward Gabriella McKeown led the team with four shots.
McKeown also got her first assist of the season on the Owls’ lone goal scored by graduate forward Morgan Glassford in the 79th minute. Temple hadn’t scored against the Knights since freshman midfielder Jillian DiBlasi scored a goal in the 39th minute of a 4-1 Owls’ loss on Oct. 6, 2013.
The Owls are now 0-5 in matchups against Central Florida since joining The American prior to the 2013 season. The Knights have outscored Temple, 13-2, in the five games. They were ranked prior to four of the five matches.
Temple’s loss to Central Florida was its third in a row and sixth loss by two or more goals this season. The Owls will finish out the season against Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut on Friday at 7 p.m.
“I don’t take any glory in good defeats,” O’Connor said. “We asked all of the girls after the game what they feel they each can learn from this and why we play well and often have really close games with some of the top teams in the conference. We need to get over that hump and start winning some of these.”
“We’ve got a style of play that works and a really good young core of players,” he added. “Sometimes a score such as us losing 4-1 doesn’t show it but it didn’t feel like a blowout. We’re right there and really close to beating some of these tough opponents.”
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