Oct. 25, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Temple's Bridget Settles scored the game's only goal ten minutes into the second half to give the Owls a 1-0 victory over La Salle on Sunday at Geasey Field. Junior Emma Ruth stopped eight shots in the loss for the Explorers.

Neither team could generate much offensive pressure in the scoreless first half as a majority of the play took place in the middle third of the field. La Salle had five shots and the only penalty corner of the stanza for either team.

Immediately after halftime, both teams picked up the offensive pressure, especially the Owls (6-11, 2-2 A-10). Eight minutes into the second half, the Cherry and White strung together a number of consecutive penalty corners to keep the Explorers (7-11, 2-3 A-10) on their heels.

At the 44:54 mark, Settles was finally able to find the back of the cage. Taking the pass off of the end line, senior Mandi Ruth stopped the ball at the top of the circle for classmate Charise Young.

Instead of firing a shot by on her own, Young opted to send a pass to Settles who took a shot that deflected off Emma Ruth and found its way into the back of the net.

The loss means that La Salle needs to defeat Massachusetts in its conference finale on Friday and hope for help around the league to earn one of four berths in the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Richmond has clinched a spot in the playoffs with a 4-0 start in the league. Saint Joseph's defeated West Chester today, 3-1, to vault into second place in the A-10 with a 3-1 record. WCU is 3-2, followed by Temple (2-2) and La Salle (2-3).

Friday's game begins at 3 PM.