Lacrosse Travels to Vanderbilt for Critical Regular Season-Finale Series

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple lacrosse team (10-3, 6-2 AAC) will look to keep the momentum going against Vanderbilt (11-4, 6-2 AAC) after securing their fifth and sixth straight victories against ECU last weekend. This series has major postseason implications for both Vanderbilt and the Owls. Both games will be broadcasted on the Vanderbilt Commodores YouTube channel.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> The Owls are currently on a six-game winning streak, after sweeping their series against the East Carolina Pirates.
> Bridget Whitaker leads the team with 34 goals. The senior is on fire, scoring three straight hat tricks and contributing in many other ways. She is currently tied for second in the American Athletic Conference in goals per game, averaging 2.62 in 13 games.
> Fifth-year attacker Meghan Hoffman is the facilitator for the Temple offense with 36 assists on the season, ranking second-best in the AAC. She is just one assist away from tying the Owls' single-season record of 37.
> The Temple defense has wreaked havoc all season on opposing offenses. They are leading the AAC in caused turnovers (142) and are seventh in the nation in caused turnovers per game (10.92). Courtney Taylor leads the AAC in this category, with 25. She is sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game (2.38) and is the leader in ground balls per game (4.23)

LAST TIME OUT: TEMPLE 13 @ EAST CAROLINA 7, & TEMPLE 11 @ EAST CAROLINA 6
> Temple defeated ECU in their two matches last weekend, 13-7 on Friday and 11-6 on Sunday.
> The first match saw Temple dominate, extending the lead to 9-2 early in the second half. Hoffman was magnificent, tying the school single-game assist record of seven.
> In the second match, the Pirates were more competitive in the first half before the Owls pulled away in the second. Temple completely dominated the draw control circle 14-5.

SCOUTING VANDERBILT
> Vanderbilt is 11-4 on the season and 6-2 in conference play. The Commodores are coming off a series sweep by No. 9 Florida. They have been ranked this season as recently as last week.
> Gabby Fornia has been a superstar for Vanderbilt this season. She leads the country in assists with 43 on the year and leads the conference in assists per game (2.87).
> The Commodores are exceptionally diverse in terms of scoring, as they have four players with over 20 goals and seven with 17 or more.
> Sophomore goalkeeper Paige Gunning has been among the best in the conference between the pipes. She leads the AAC and is second in the nation in saves with 138.
> Head Coach Beth Hewitt is in her third year leading the Commodores. Hewitt amassed a reputation as a program builder at D-II Le Moyne. Since arriving in Nashville, she has built Vanderbilt into a contender in the American. During her coaching career, Hewitt is 96-35 and 25-15 with the Commodores.

SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and Vanderbilt have shared a conference since 2015 when Vanderbilt moved into the BIG EAST.
> The teams have faced off six times. Five were played between 2015-2019, their first meeting was in 1996.
> Temple has won four straight against the Commodores.

Temple University Athletics

Lacrosse Travels to Vanderbilt for Critical Regular Season-Finale Series

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