Oct. 1, 2004

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In a rematch of last year's Atlantic 10 Championship game, Temple christened the Ambler Soccer Field in grand fashion by downing Rhode Island, 3-2 in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams Friday.

Temple had a 2-0 lead, but Rhode Island stormed back to tie the score and force overtime. But for the second-straight game, the Rams' comeback from a 2-0 deficit was wasted in the extra session when Temple freshman Stephen Bristow scored the game-winner in the 94th minute.

Bristow, who assisted on TU's two goals earlier in the game, scored off a corner kick from senior Steven Wacker for the golden goal at the 93:42 mark. The contest marked the first time a completely healthy club took the field for head coach David MacWilliams this season, as last year's leading scorer Nate Webb and a veteran defensive backfield were reunited on the Ambler pitch.

Webb wasted no time getting into the mix, scoring off a pass from Bristow in the 23rd minute. The senior had missed the first eight games of the season with a back injury. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half, but crisp passes from Bristow and Wacker led to a goal by junior Ryan Heins in the 56th minute, giving the Owls (4-5, 1-0 A- 10) a 2-0 advantage.

The defending champions bounced back 10 minutes later on a goal by Nicholas Varholak in the 66th minute. With under five minutes to go, the league's leading scorer Sasha Gotsmanov beat Temple keeper Patrick Hannigan (five saves) to tie the score at two at the 85:37 mark. It was Gotsmanov's ninth goal in nine games and along with his assist on Varholak's, he has 21 points on the season.

Temple controlled play in the extra period and less than four minutes in, Bristow took the corner from Wacker and beat Dean Ruddy (three saves) for the game winner. URI (5-4, 0-1) held a 12-10 advantage in shots and both teams attempted five corner kicks.