Temple tops Lafayette 1-0 in exhibition match

With construction still going on around them and the sun beating down on a hot day, Temple men’s soccer topped Lafayette 1-0 in an exhibition match at their new home in the city on Monday.

Rookie midfielder Zach Brown scored the game’s lone goal in the 78th minute, making a great run into the box to connect on a goal to the far post after senior captain Matt Mahoney served in a ball from the right flank.

Brown, a substitute, looked good in his debut for the Owls patrolling the middle of the field and starting a couple of counter attacks. Senior Jorge Gomez Sanchez had three chances to put the Owls up front in the first half – one he fired way wide of the goal and the other two were stopped by Leopard’s goalkeeper Brian Ehrlich.

Senior goalkeeper Alex Cagle made just one save in the first half and Robin Goetz was barely tested by a Lafayette offense that included reigning Pennsylvania high school Player of the Year Evan Vare.

The match was the first for the Owls in their new home on the site of the former William Penn High School near Broad Street. The facility near main campus has a scenic view of the city skyline and a short commute for players and fans who had been commuting to Ambler for the past 11 seasons.

"To play down here in the city and on main campus was a great feeling," head coach David MacWilliams said in a news release. "I know we're all looking forward to playing more games down here and building a strong fan base with the student body, the alumni and families."

The Owls visit Monmouth for another exhibition match on August 19 before opening up their regular season back at home against Manhattan at 4 p.m. on August 26.