Philadelphia, PA – With Temple yearning for a ticket to tenuous ticket to the Atlantic 10, an early goal by Saint Louis (SLU) was enough to secure the victory.
Because Coach Dan Donigan picked up a red against Dayton in the last game, he was sentence to do his penance on the parent’s side.
The Temple fans had one guy that just lost his mind. Sir – it’s not the refs fault that “little Johnny’s team didn’t play well enough to win.” SLU dominated the game. SLU allowed Temple to have late chances because they didn’t finish open shots.
Oh, it was brutally cold with the wind chill dipping into the 20’s (though it felt like it was negative, at times.
Starting Lineups:
SLU 4-4-2.
F: Mike Roach, Alex Sweetin
M: Stephen Bortolon, Josh Aranda, Michael Robson, Benny Estes
D: Alex Johnston, Tim Ream, Jacob Brown, James Dice
G: Ross Kaufman
Temple 4-4-2.
F: Francois Sagna, Tyler Witmer
M: Augustin Coly, Mike Puppolo, Jared Harris, Kenechukwu Nwanah
D: Bryan Keller, Martin Dell’Arciprete, Billy Kappock (wearing 15), Chas Chupein
G: Brett Mollon
SLU observations:
I need to find out why the following players didn’t play, senior back Rob Viviano, senior back James Jaramillo and sophomore midfielder Beau Bellomy.
The goal was scored by freshman center back Jacob Brown in the 5th minute from a perfect freshman forward Alex Sweetin corner kick. Sweetin served 8 yards out even with the back post, no one on Temple put a body on Brown and he had a free lane to head the ball into the far post. Brown is very tall. In the 15th minute, he stopped a Temple attacker after he had gotten past the left back.
I liked how Brown organized the defense in the second half after an unsuccessful Temple corner that was partially cleared. He immediately was organizing his older team mates by getting men covered before the ball was back upon SLU.
I’m sold. Senior center back Tim Ream is going to be a successful professional. Without reviewing all the seniors, he might be one of the top 5 seniors chosen in the MLS draft. His defense is top-notch. His passing is accurate. He doesn’t rush himself. He’ll need to be quicker on his first touch. Ream is the bright spot on this team.
Sweetin, junior midfielder Stephen Bortolon and sophomore forward Mike Roach were torching the right side of the Temple defense in the first 15 minutes until Temple made several substitutions to solidify their defense. With quick touches, Temple was just not able to recover.
Sweetin seemed to run out of steam late in both halves. In the last 5 minutes of the game, he was free on the goal keeper but had lost the technique to finish successfully. Dan attributed the play to the GK – I submit that the forward needed to finish.
Additionally, Bortolon had a chance to score in the 4th minute from a slick Sweetin pass. With Bortolon open just inside the box with the near post in front of him, he could have scored by shooting near post or by pushing the ball around the keeper to the far post. Instead he shot at the goal keeper.
These are the types of blown opportunities which create defeats.
Sophomore left back Alex Johnston is a good defender. Quick on his feet. Sure on his tackles. His ball skills are inadequate. In the 23rd minute, he received the ball on a throw in then powered it back to the thrower. turn over. He surrendered a corner kick because he mis-headed a ball 35 yards from goal.
In the 88th minute, Ream served in a beautiful long free kick that Brown was able to gather and square it into the middle of the top of the box. Senior back James Dice hit the post.
Senior DM Josh Aranda used his body to eraticate the dribbler from the ball. I like his heart – but he just doesn’t have enough core soccer skills.
I’m glad to see Roach back on the field after suffering an injury against Akron. He’s been playing, but this is the first time that I’ve seen him back on the field. In the 21st minute, senior forward Scott Wisniewski dummied a ball to Roach in the middle of the box. Roach took 2 touches (1 too many) and his shot was blocked. Roach’s best touch was in the 71st minute, he squared a ball with his heel in traffic to freshman midfielder Nick Maglasang 35 yards from goal. Maglasang sent the ball forward to free Sweetin in the box, but the GK snuffed out the chance.
Roach squared the ball to Sweetin at the end of the game but the openSweetin hit a slow roller.
I like the way that freshman center midfielder Michael Robson plays. Good tackler, tactically aware of weaknesses. He’s going to be pretty good.
Senior goal keeper Ross Kaufman wasn’t challenged.
I believe that Dan Donigan’s mother was up from Florida to watch the game. Terrific timing – how about inviting your mother up to DC in mid-September or UMass early in the year. Horrible, horrible planning to have your mother sit outside in the blustery wind in the beginning of November.
Temple observations:
Temple were controlled for much of the game. Regardless of the stats, they didn’t deserve a point, a win or very much consideration.
Why didn’t senior J.T. Noone play? He was one of the reasons that I came to see this game. The other reason is it’s better to sit out on a blustery day on cold bleachers than be at work….
In the first half, the best Temple chance came from a junior midfielder Max Kinderwater corner kick that found freshman defender Billy Kappock’s head.
In the second half, the best Temple chance came from junior midfielder Kenechukwu Nwanah fall in the box. It was close and I wouldn’t have complained (except for the call) if a PK was called. But, that’s a serious indictment if the best chance is a non-call.
The best attacker for Temple is sophomore midfielder Tyler Witmer. He’s quick on the dribble and an astute player.
Freshman midfielder Homero Rodriguez’s insertion in the game was part of the reason for Temple’s turn-around. He can hold the ball. Rodriguez is fearless in his tackling. I like his tight area passing. Very light; very accurate.
Nwanah is very fast. Once he started running defenders had a difficult time catching him.
I couldn’t believe that senior midfielder Augustin Coly made a horrible pass that was intercepted at the top of his box.
