PHILADELPHIA - In a game that featured several momentum swings throughout, neither the University of Pennsylvania nor Temple found the goal it was looking for, as Tuesday's match ended in a 0-0 draw after two overtimes.
PENN NOTES
*The Quakers wrap up their Philadelphia Soccer Six slate of competition at 0-0-2 on the year, drawing both the Owls and Drexel.
*The overtime bout was the ninth in 12 matches for the Quakers this season.
*The shutout is the sixth of the season for the Quakers, their most since tallying six in 2013. Senior goalkeeper
Scott Forbes was a key part of the shutout, collecting nine saves on the night, including several high level denials.
*Defender
Erumuse Momoh led the team with five shots on the night, routinely finding himself drawn forward and in the penalty box against the Owls. Penn outshot Temple 16-14, but the Cherry and White led in shots on goal, 9-6.
*Sophomore
Jake Kohlbrenner led the Quakers with three shots on goal.
*With the 0-0 result, Penn extends its program record with five scoreless draws in one season.
*The all-time series against Temple moves to 22-7-7 in favor of the Red and Blue.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were slow to make the first move in the early minutes of the game, each finding their footing in North Philadelphia. Play began to tilt in favor of the Quakers, as Penn pushed forward as the aggressor as more time went on in the opening period of play.
Wes Maki notched the first shot of the night for Penn, trying to find space in the box off a corner kick from
Brandon Bartel.
Kohlbrenner was a key cog in Penn's aggression, ripping a shot from distance to force a save from the Temple goalkeeper, while Momoh headed a ball just wide on the ensuing corner kick. While Temple attempted several counter attacks, the Quakers were successful in sniffing out the Owl offense early, controlling nearly every ball at the top of the box and forcing the home team into long distance attempts.
It was a different story in the second half, as the Owls shot out of the break on the attack, gaining confidence on the offensive end. Forbes was forced into two sky high saves in the first 12 minutes of the second half, leaping up into the air to swat away the Temple shot at the final moment.
Again, it was Kohlbrenner who kickstarted the Penn offense as the half went on, applying pressure in the final third against the Temple defense. Penn had a flurry of chances with around 10 minutes remaining in regulation, using set pieces off both free and corner kicks, but was unable to find either the angle or space in the box it was looking for.
With nearly five minutes left in regulation, Temple drove forward on a counter that nearly sealed the game, but the ball sailed just wide. Lukas Fernandes was the main offensive threat for the Owls, finishing with 10 shots, including seven on goal.
As play ventured into overtime, Penn tried to find something quickly off the foot of Bartel, but it was primarily the Owls who threatened, peppering in shots from all around the box and forcing Penn into some dicey moments around the cage. Forbes again was forced to make a diving stop, but the New Jersey native proved up to the task.
The Quakers regained control in the final overtime period, tallying shots from Momoh, Kohlbrenner and Maki, but to no avail. The Owls nearly punched in the golden-goal winner with 25 seconds to play, but were called offsides to end the game.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Quakers are back at home this weekend, facing Brown on Saturday, October 27 on Rhodes Field at 7 p.m.
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