The Owls fell to Rider, 5-0, for their fifth straight loss on the road last Friday.
The team opened up its season promisingly with two straight wins, the best the team’s started since 1992. Since then they have been struggled as their record now stands at at 2-5-0.
“We need to continue to stay the course and pay attention to the small details that often change games.” first-year coach Matt Gwilliam said. “When things aren’t falling for you, you just need to work that much harder to earn them.”
The game started out with a quick Rider goal in the first six minutes of play scored by sophomore forward Bridgette Bartkowski. While the Owls managed to hold off the persistent Broncs offense for a brief stretch, Rider did not let up, nabbing two more goals within 28 seconds of one another 24 minutes into the half. The goals were scored by junior forward Abi Cottam and sophomore forward Jodi Sokol.
“We need to work on stepping up in back and winning the second ball, finishing and really working together,” Owls’ junior midfielfer Brittany Wollner said.
The second half proved that Temple could still put up a fight, and the teams battled through a scoreless forty minutes until the Broncs fired in two last goals in the final minutes of the game.
Offensively, the Owls made quite an effort to push the ball up the field and give the Rider defense a tough time. However, Rider outshot Temple 18-11, providing both Owls senior Gillian Kacsuta and junior Tara Murphy with plenty of work in goal. Kacsuta made her second straight start as keeper but was relieved by Murphy at the half, who made four saves during her time in net.
Friday’s game marked the end of the Owls long five-game stretch on the road, and they will return to Ambler Campus this Friday after a week off.
Elizabeth Sim can be reached at esim@temple.edu
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