Temple, La Salle & Delaware post wins, ‘Nova and Saint Joe’s stunned to open women’s soccer season

Transfer Ariana Gronauer scored six minutes into her Temple debut and substitute Sabrina Campbell and another newcomer, former TSG Hoffenheim U20 midfielder Valentin Bitterwolf, added second half goals to lead the Owls to a 3-0 win over Iona to open the season on Thursday night at Temple Sports Complex.

The season opening win was the first for the program since they beat Fairleigh Dickinson 3-2 in overtime on the road in 2017 and the first time they’ve won a home opener at Temple Sports Complex. The program’s last season opening win at home was a 3-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in Ambler in 2015.

Tamsin Bynoe made three saves to record her fourth career shutout.

La Salle twice took leads over Bucknell but a 58th minute goal from Alexis Garcia sealed the 3-2 win for the Explorers over Bucknell at McCarthy Stadium on Thursday. Kayden Williams (Harrisburg, Pa.) scored a goal in her college debut and grad student Jillian Drumm (Cherry Hill, N.J.) also scored her first career goal.

Delaware put on an offensive show in their 5-2 win to open their season. Maggie Groh (York, Pa.) had a brace and an assist to lead the Blue Hens in the win over Mount St. Mary’s. Adiat Olaogun-Dickson (Sicklerville, N.J.) scored a goal in her college debut and Olivia Bley (West Chester, Pa.) also found the back of the net for her third career goal.

Sophia Hall (Malvern, Pa.) made three saves in her college debut in net. The five goals are the second most for a Blue Hens team under head coach Kelly Lawrence (they scored 9 against Hampton in 2023).

Elise Duffy (Furlong, Pa.) had arguably the goal of the day for Drexel but the Dragons were unable to make it stand up as they settled for a 1-1 draw with Saint Peter’s on Thursday.

Elise Duffy goes bar-down from long range for the first goal of the season!#FearTheDragon🐉 pic.twitter.com/CBQUgWhWsa

— Drexel Women’s Soccer (@DrexelWSoccer) August 14, 2025

Villanova and Saint Joseph’s both took leads but were unable to hold on for results in their season openers against Michigan and at Hofstra.

In a game that marked the college debut of twin sisters Maya Raghunandanan and Kayla Raghunandanan (Newtown, Pa.) playing against each other both sisters played well but it was a late surge from Michigan that stunned the home crowd in the 2-1 win for the Wolverines.

Amalia Cardo put the Wildcats up with a penalty kick that went off the right post and in in the 70th minute but a poor clearance from goalkeeper Hannah Dickinson off a corner kick led to the equalizer from Elle Ervin and a giveaway on the right flank set up the winner from Gabrielle Prych with under four minutes to go. Taylor Brennan (Newtown, Pa.) played 40 minutes for the Wolverines in the match while Maya started and played 48 minutes in her debut and Kayla logged 23 minutes off the bench for Villanova.

Emily Hanrahan scored the 11th goal of her career to put the Hawks up in the 20th minute at Hofstra but the hosts found goals in the 66th and 90th minute to spoil Saint Joseph’s season debut.

Grad transfer Alli Popham (Middletown, Del.) made three saves for the Hawks in her debut.