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VILLANOVA, Pa. ââ'¬" A pair of late goals helped No. 23 Temple outlast Villanova 2-1 in an entertaining match played on a warm late summer afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex on Wednesday. The Wildcats fall to 3-2 on the season after suffering their first defeat at home in 2015.

"I thought we had the possession we needed and created quality chances," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "Unfortunately, the difference between this game and our earlier games is that we were unable to finish them."

Indeed, for much of the day the match was scoreless as temperatures hovered in the mid-80's under abundant sunshine.

The Wildcats had three superb second half strikes that could have shifted the match's tenor. Twice junior Max Kroschwitz was fed the ball on promising runs only to have his bids denied by strong saves from a charging Temple goalkeeper, Alex Cagle. Later, Cagle made a leaping stop of a bid by junior Padraic McCullaugh to place one along the top shelf.

Those chances loomed all the more large when Temple broke through at 69:48 after a loose ball came free outside the 18-yard box to Belal Mohamed. Mohamed slipped a pass to Carlos Moros Gracia, just behind the Villanova defense and in front of goalkeeper Will Steiner. Gracia finished the play and the Owls had the critical opening goal.

"It was off a scrum and we had seen on tape that they have scored goals like that," stated Carlin. "It was part of our scouting report but credit to them, they made the play."

Villanova pushed forward over the final 20 plus minutes and didn't lack for opportunities. But the final piece was missing and all of the bodies being sent toward goal gave Temple counter attack opportunities. The Owls took advantage of one such play late in regulation when Jordan Wix-Rauch and Jorge Gomez Sanchez teamed up for a goal at 88:47.

The Wildcats got on the board themselves at 89:37 off a long Kroschwitz throw-in that McCullaugh was able to re-direct to junior John Jlopleh. Jlopleh knocked the ball into the goal and VU was within one but with precious time left to get an equalizer.

The clock expired and the Owls held on for the win.

Next up for Villanova is a home match Sunday against Stony Brook. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Higgins Soccer Complex on West Campus (Nova Nation All-Access).