By: Morgan Killian-Moseley
PHILADELPHIA – Howarth Field may have been rain-soaked on Sunday Oct. 2, but the Temple Owls had smiles as bright as the sun, as a last second goal by Tess Muller gave the Owls the 3-2 walk-off win against the Drexel Dragons.
Drexel struck first in this one, as Taylor Mason came through on a penalty corner set piece with less than five minutes left in the first quarter to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. Amber Brouwer and Isabel Jacobs earned the assists on that goal, Mason’s third of the year.
But just over five minutes into the second quarter, Temple would respond on a penalty corner of their own, as McKenna Burkhardt would put home her team-leading seventh marker of the year to level things at one-apiece. Annie Judge and Agustina Tucceri would gain the helpers on that goal.
Late in the third quarter, another Temple penalty corner led to a green card penalty on Drexel’s Avery Powell, as well as a penalty stroke awarded to the Owls. Burkhardt would drill it home past Drexel keeper Megan Hadfield for her second goal of the game and eighth of the season to give the Cherry and White the 2-1 lead.
Drexel would not surrender as Eline Di Leva would put a Jacobs helper past Temple goalie Molly Frey for her team-leading fifth goal of the campaign to tie it up at 2-2 with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
No seconds left, no problem ⌛️⌛️⌛️ pic.twitter.com/TUemcWBwvg
— Temple Field Hockey (@TempleFH) October 3, 2022
The Owls would not be deterred, gaining a penalty corner with six seconds remaining. Burkhardt’s chance at a hat trick was denied by Hadfield. But just as time expired, another penalty corner was awarded, giving Temple one last “untimed down.” Corner insertion specialist Nienke Oerlemans sent it to Sydney Beck, who left it for Muller… tic-tac-game-winning goal. It was Muller’s fourth tally of the season, giving Temple the 3-2 win.
The Owls had eight shots in the game, six of them being on goal. Drexel fired seven shots, with four of them on target.
Temple won the penalty corner battle 6-2, with all three of Temple’s goals stemming from set pieces.
Frey made two saves in the win for the Owls. The Dragons had three saves as a team, with Hadfield making two; the last was a defensive save by Drexel backliner Anna Getty.
Owls Enter Virginia on a Three-Game Win Streak…
On Oct. 7, the Owls completed its three-game homestand with a 2-1 shootout victory vs. Providence.
The Friars notched the first goal off the stick of Nora Goddard-Despot at the 25-minute mark. Muller came to the rescue for the Owls and scored less than a minute into the fourth quarter to even the game. Neither teams were successful on offense after two physical overtime periods.
Temple went 3-1 in the ensuing shootout. Oerlemans, Tucceri and Muller each scored for the Owls.
With the win, Temple climbs to 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big East. The Owls, who are on a three-game winning streak, will travel to Virginia tomorrow to play No. 16 Liberty at 4 p.m.