Temple Routs Villanova 17-2 in Home Opener

Friday, February 26

Philadelphia, Pa.

3:00 P.M.

Temple University

2-0

Villanova

1-1

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Temple Routs Villanova 17-2 in Home Opener

2.26.21 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA- The Temple lacrosse team completely steamrolled Big 5 rival Villanova 17-2 Friday afternoon. The fifteen-point differential is the most Temple has defeated the Wildcats by since Mar. 18, 1998, when the Owls won 24-5.

Recapping the Game
> Temple controlled the game from the beginning. Just 3:04 into the match the Owls got their first goal on the board on a dart from attacker Meghan Hoffman.
> Hoffman would be involved in the next three goals for Temple. Scoring two and assisting midfielder Mackenzie Roth on her first score of the match. Not even five minutes into the game the Owls held a 4-0 lead.
> The onslaught continued for Temple, led by Belle Mastropietro (five goals), Hoffman (three goals, one assist), and Bridget Whitaker (three goals, one assist).
> Temple outright dominated the first half on offense. Villanova was rarely able to get possessions thanks to excellent draw play from Temple. The Owls took a 13-0 lead into the break.
> Villanova finally scored their first goal nearly 34 minutes into the match.
> The Wildcats scored once more, sandwiched between a pair of goals from Hoffman and Mastropietro.
> The Owls added a pair of late goals from Lauren Zinkl and Abaigeal Ryan to cap the final score off at 17-2.

Statistically Speaking
> Mastropietro led the charge for Temple, scoring a career-high six goals. She also was one of seven Owls to add an assist.
> Hoffman netted four goals, while Whitaker earned her second consecutive hat trick.
> Roth continued her breakout season, adding two more goals to her season total. Ryan scored her first of the season, while Lauren Zinkl tallied her first goal since 2019.
> Temple won 18 draws to Villanova's two. This outstanding effort was largely led by Mastropietro and Whitaker, who controlled six each.
> Overall, this was Temple's best defensive performance since Apr. 21, 2002, when they won 14-2 at UMass.

Quotable
> "We have a tremendous amount of respect for the Villanova program, from the players to the coaching staff. Our team did a really good job of getting draw controls, which is big for momentum and executing flawlessly in our offensive, and this was a really wonderful win." - head coach Bonnie Rosen

Up Next
> The Owls face their second of three straight big five rivals as the Drexel Dragons come to Howarth Field Wednesday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.