Box Score
 
AMBLER, PA– Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Bersett registered five saves in net, but it wasn't good enough to prevent NJIT from enduring a heartbreaking 1-0 setback on the road at Temple Friday afternoon at the Ambler Sports Complex.
 
The loss was the fourth straight tough setback for the Highlanders, who fell to 1-4 overall. The Owls won for the first time this season and improved to 1-2-1 overall.
 
Temple scored the lone goal of the match in the 22nd minute. Kate Yurkovic scored her second goal of the young season with an assist to Casey Greco.
 
Tara Murphy collected two saves to earn the shutout for Temple.
 
The Highlanders had the first true scoring chance of the match, when junior midfielder Amanda Redden fired a shot in the sixth minute that Murphy had to stop to record a save.
The Owls broke on the scoreboard after a corner kick. Greco put the ball in front and Yurkovic headed it past Bersett for the lone goal of the match.
 
Temple had a chance to increase the lead in the 39th minute, but Bersett stopped Karly O'Toole's shot, keeping the score at 1-0 at intermission.
 
NJIT recorded its other good scoring chance, when freshman midfielder Marissa Borschke unleashed a shot that Murphy had to smother to keep it from tying the match.
 
Redden had a chance to score in the 52nd minute, but her low shot sailed wide of the goal.
 
Bersett made another big save on an O'Toole shot in the 79th minute to keep the deficit at one goal.
 
NJIT senior forward Gechi Ukaegbu had a chance to tie the match in the 86th minute, but her attempt sailed over the crossbar.
 
The Highlanders were outshot, 12-4. They also lost the battle in corner kicks by a 5-2 margin.
 
NJIT head coach Sergio Gonzalez thought his team played well, but still endured another tough setback.
 
“I think it's another frustrating loss,” Gonzalez said. “We have to do a better job imposing ourselves offensively. I think we defended pretty well, but we're still not getting too many chances. We have to do a better job with possession. We're not building anything threatening on offense.”
 
Gonzalez liked the play of Borschke and freshman midfielder Madeline Griep.
“I thought they were both able to do some things with the ball, but we lacked more on the ball,” Gonzalez said. “It was an inability to do anything with possession.”
 
Gonzalez knew that the early part of the season wasn't going to be easy.
 
“We put together a tough schedule for a reason, but we have to find a way to win these games,” Gonzalez said. “We have another tough one Sunday. Let's see how we bounce back.”
 
The Highlanders return to action Sunday night when they take on New Jersey state rival Monmouth at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

Write-up courtesy James Hague