Lacrosse Opens Conference Play Against Vanderbilt

Saturday, April 2

Philadelphia, PA

12:00 P.M.

Temple University

Vanderbilt

Photo by: Robin Hsiao

Lacrosse Opens Conference Play Against Vanderbilt

3.31.22 | Women's Lacrosse

Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats Notes (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA- The Temple lacrosse team (7-4) returns home this Saturday at noon to face the Vanderbilt Commodores (7-3). This game is critical for both sides, who played three times last season and tied for second in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll.

LAST TIME OUT
> Temple fell to No. 5 Syracuse by a score of 22-7.
> Temple hung in the game for most of the first half before the Orange pulled away.
> Goalkeeper Shana Hecht saw her first action of the season.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Belle Mastropietro has been among the nation's best all-around players this season. The AAC Preseason Midfielder of the Year was named to the Tewaaraton Watchlist, recognizing her as being in contention for the "Heisman of lacrosse." Mastropietro is currently 4^th in the American in goals (34) and is tied for fourth in points (46). She is also having a fantastic draw control season, she currently has an AAC leading 57. Good for ninth all-time on Temple's single season list.
> Mackenzie Roth is an elite distributor in women's lacrosse. Her 24 assists place her at eighth nationally and second in the American. She is currently tracking to have one of the best single seasons in Temple history in terms of assists. Roth is currently two short of entering the top ten for single-season assists. The attacker is also fourth on the team in goals (13).
> Katie Shallow is building a case as the best defender in the AAC. She currently leads the conference in ground balls (28) and is tied for first in caused turnovers (23). She is also third on the squad in draw controls (21).

SCOUTING VANDERBILT
> Vanderbilt earned its first NCAA tournament berth since 2010 last season. This year looks to be another strong season for the Commodores, who have earned a 7-3 record including an impressive win over No. 12 Notre Dame.
> The Commodores are led by Beth Hewitt in her fifth season on the sidelines. Hewitt amassed a reputation as a program builder at D-II Le Moyne where she went 71-20 in 5 years. Since arriving in Nashville, she has built Vanderbilt into a contender in the American. Prior to her arrival, Vandy suffered six straight losing seasons. During her coaching career, Hewitt is 104-41 and 33-21 with the Commodores.
> Vanderbilt fields a deep team in 2022, with lots of returning talent from last season's tournament run. Gabby Fornia is one of the best passers in the nation, the AAC Preseason Attacker of the Year ranks second in the nation with 30 assists. She also has scored 14 goals. Bri Gross also returns from last season. A Preseason All-AAC selection Gross leads the Commodores with 20 goals and ranks second on the team with 18 ground balls.

SERIES HISTORY vs. VANDERBILT
> This is the tenth meeting between these two programs. Temple leads 7-2.
> The two have shared a conference since Vanderbilt joined the BIG EAST in 2015.
> Last season, the two sides met in three straight games as the season ended with a two-game series against Vanderbilt. Temple took the first match with Vandy taking the second. The two met for the third time in the AAC conference semi-final. Temple controlled the entire match, taking the victory, 16-11.