Game Story: Temple University Vs. University of Delaware

PHILADELPHIA-- Despite scoring on their first shot, the Temple Owls club field hockey team fell to the Delaware Blue Hens, 4-1, to wrap up their regular season with a 8-3 record. There was a complete lack of offense for the Owls on a windy Sunday afternoon tilt, who recorded only one shot on goal the entire game. The lone Temple goal came from Megan Cassleberry, just 10 minutes in to open the scoring. After the quick start and early pressure from the Owls, their advantage quickly began to fade. The Blue Hens began to take control of the game, controlling possession and spending the majority of the latter part of the first half in the Temple end. “We had a tough time getting shots to the net,” midfielder Mary Kate Alessandrini said. The Owls were weathering the storm in their defensive zone where Temple goalie Gina Allen was tested multiple times. Allen recorded three first-half saves as the first half was in its final moments. In the final minute of the first half a penalty corner yielded the Blue Hens a game-tying goal just seconds before the halftime whistle blew.
The Owls were noticeably unhappy after giving up their lead during halftime. Midfielder, club president and team captain, Amelia Schunder was leading the pregame huddle. The Temple field hockey club team is student run. “It is going to be more competitive, that stuff last week isn’t going to fly,” Schunder said right before the huddle broke to begin the game. Temple spent the entire halftime break in a huddle, listening to Schunder lead second-half adjustments. “Someone needs to step up,” Schunder echoed multiple times throughout. The second half began like the first half ended, with consistent pressure from Delaware. The Blue Hens added to their lead just five minutes into the final period. Temple in less than 10 minutes of play, seemed to go from game managing to game chasing, and quickly the game seemed to be getting out of reach. Temple responded with sporadic pressure without getting a shot, but this gave way to a Delaware counter attack that resulted in another goal. The Blue Hens scored 3 goals in just 13 minutes. The Owls tried to claw their way back, but their shots were not on goal. Both teams each had more than five missed shots. The final stretch of the game was controlled by constant Blue Hens pressure, resulting in many shots on target that Allen attempted to fight off. After two rapid saves in the same sequence, the Blue Hens added an insurance goal off a rebound in the final minute of the game. “We feel like we were the better team for most of the game,” Alessandrini said following the loss. Alessandrini was one of the defenders on the penalty corner goal allowed immediately before halftime. “I’m the flyer on corners and I am supposed to stop the initial shot,” Alessandrini said. “I was pretty tired at that point and was not able to make a play on the ball before it was shot.” “I think our first half was played with a lot more confidence, but once [Delaware] scored with almost no time left in the first half, we got down on ourselves,” Alessandrini added. “Once they scored again quickly in the second half we had a really tough time competing.” Although the regular season ended on a down note, the Owls ended up clinching nationals, which will take place on Oct. 19. The Owls will play three games that day, against James Madison University, North Carolina, and Northeastern. “Playing in a national tournament for a club sport is a great feeling. I can’t wait to play,” Alessandrini said with a smile.