The Colonials traveled to two Philadelphia-based Atlantic 10 competitors this weekend. But the comparison of the games ended there.

GW (4-8-2) began its weekend play Friday against St Joseph’s and finished Sunday at Temple. The Colonials looked like two completely different teams in their two matches, playing their most physical game of the season against the Hawks, but lacking intensity against the Owls.

“When you play on the road, you need to come out with intensity,” head coach Tanya Vogel said. “It is important to just go out and compete. The most encouraging thing against St. Joe’s was that the team physically battled everyone.”

GW’s match against St. Joseph’s was the third straight overtime match for the Colonials. The game knotted in a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods, after a hard-fought battle throughout play.

Despite struggles with putting the ball on net, the Colonials were able to spread the ball effectively, attacking the Hawks goalkeeper from all angles. GW exhibited physically and tactically dominant action throughout play.

“It is encouraging that our team can compete for 90 minutes and in overtime,” Vogel said. “A win would have been great but I am encouraged by how we played today and how the team brought intensity.”

The Colonials could not bring the same intensity into their match against Temple, which dominated play throughout the entire match. GW’s usual style of play is hallmarked by a field-wide attack, utilizing the subsequent open space left by the defense, but Temple plays with a more direct style. The Owls relentlessly attacked the box with long passes, forcing the Colonials to resort to Temple’s style of play.

GW attempted 12 shots but struggled with accuracy, placing just four on goal. The Colonials ultimately failed to even the score after Temple scored the lone goal of the match in the 29th minute, and the Owls earned a 1-0 victory for their first Atlantic 10 win of the season.

“Not very much went well against Temple,” Vogel said. “We played into their system, we didn’t battle, and if you don’t battle then you don’t win games. That’s the truth. If you don’t bring it on game day then you won’t win. Period.”

The Colonials will finish the remainder of conference play at home. There are five games remaining, which means five more opportunities for Vogel’s team to prove its will to win and desire to compete.

“I do my best not to dwell on the past and I do my best to look to the next game,” Vogel said “We are happy to come back home. Now, we are going to focus on controlling the controllable. We have to focus on playing our best and giving it our all at all times.”

The Colonials begin their home stand on Oct. 14 against the Dayton Flyers. Play is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.