Temple University Athletics
Mastropietro Wins Midfielder of the Year; Eight Earn All-AAC Honors
5.4.22 | Women's Lacrosse
IRVING, Texas- Eight members of the Temple lacrosse team have received American Athletic Conference post-season honors, as voted on by league coaches. The eight players selected match the Temple's program record, which was set in 2019. Junior Belle Mastropietro was awarded AAC Midfielder of the Year, the first-ever Temple lacrosse player to win Midfielder of the Year in any conference. Mastropietro and graduate midfielder Quinn Nicolai were both named unanimous First-Team All-AAC selections, with Mackenzie Roth also being tabbed First Team All-AAC. Riley McGowan, Maeve Tobin, Maddie Barber, Katie Shallow, and Annie Carroll were each named Second-Team All-Conference.
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Mastropietro was also awarded first-team All-Conference honors last season, as well as being selected to the All-AAC Tournament team. For Nicolai, it is the first time she has been named to the All-AAC squad, although she was named to the All Big-Ten tournament team during her final season at Penn State in 2021.
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A junior attacker, Roth was named a preseason All-Conference selection prior to the start of the season. For juniors McGowan (attacker) and Tobin (midfielder), it is their first time being named to an All-Conference team. For sophomore Barber, it is her first time earning her way to an All-Conference squad. Shallow earned her way onto the All-AAC Tournament team in 2021 and was named Preseason All-Conference prior to the 2022 season. Goalkeeper Carroll had only appeared in nine games in her career prior to arriving on North Broad as a graduate transfer. This is her first All-Conference appearance.
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Mastropietro was outstanding in all phases of the game. The midfielder led the Owls in points (63), finished second on the team in goals (42), assists (21), shots (109), game-winning goals (2), free-position goals (11), and was third in ground balls (28) and caused turnovers (13). Mastropietro finished in the top six in the American in six different statistical categories, including goals and assists. Where the junior truly stood out though, was the draw control circle. Mastropietro set a new single-season record for draw controls (96), surpassing the mark of 87 Bridget Whitaker set last season. She leads the American in draw controls per game (6.00) by a wide margin. Mastropietro won AAC Weekly awards in nine out of 12 weeks.
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Nicolai took her game to a new level after arriving as a grad transfer from Penn State. The midfielder became the first 50-goal scorer on a Temple lacrosse team since 2004 this season. She also led the team in shots on goal (94), game-winning goals (3), and free-position goals (12). Nicolai placed second on the squad with 29 ground balls and contributed nine assists, 12 caused turnovers, and 10 draw controls. Nicolai's 50 goals rank fourth in the American. She earned four AAC Weekly Honors and was a finalist for Inside Lacrosse's Women Player of the Week following a seven-goal performance against Saint Joseph's.Â
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Roth thrived in her new role as Temple's primary distributor. The attacker racked up 36 assists this season, good for second in the American and 12th nationally. She also ranks third all-time in Temple single-season assists and is eighth all-time in career assists (60). In the game against No. 13 Rutgers, Roth passed for five assists to tie for the third-most in a single game in Temple history. Roth also ranks fourth on the team in goals with 22 and third in shot percentage (.564). The attacker also found ways to impact the game on the defensive side of the ball, leading all attackers in ground balls (21) and caused turnovers (9). Roth was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll five times.
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McGowan roared back onto the scene after suffering a season-ending injury prior to the 2021 season. The attacker was one of the most efficient shooters in the nation, putting a staggering 90.6% of her shots on net. McGowan ranked third on the team with 29 goals, with the lion's share coming in the second half of the season. The junior scored in every contest from the 3/11 game against Delaware onwards. This included a seven-goal outburst in a key victory over Vanderbilt that earned McGowan AAC Attacker of the Week.
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Tobin was the epitome of a hustle player for the Owls this season. The midfielder scored 13 goals and scooped four ground balls, also causing a turnover and controlled four draws. Tobin was critical to the team's energy on and off the field. She was often among the first players back in transition and was a key player in the midfield all year. The junior scored at least one goal in seven of the last nine games, including her first career hat trick at East Carolina.
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Shallow staked her claim among the best defenders in the American in 2022. The sophomore ranked first in the American in both caused turnovers and ground balls, with 31 and 39, respectively. The defender also finished third on Temple in draw controls (37). Shallow ranked 13th nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.94). While Shallow had several impressive single-game performances, including Villanova, No. 5 Syracuse, East Carolina, and Old Dominion, her best game came at Monmouth. The defender set new career-highs in ground balls (7) and draw controls (6), and set a season-high in caused turnovers (5). Shallow was named AAC Defender of the Week for the final week of the season.
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After an impressive rookie campaign that saw her start all 19 games, Barber took her game to a new level this season. The defensive midfielder ranked 14th in the conference with 1.57 ground balls per game. She ranked second on the team in caused turnovers with 15 and added a whole new dimension to her game this season on the draw control circle. The sophomore piled on 47 draw controls this season, good for second on the team. Her 3.36 draw controls per game places her at ninth in the American. She was twice named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.
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Carroll started every game in goal for the Owls after transferring in from UConn over the summer. She finished with 117 saves, and an 11-4 record on the season. Carroll was rarely pulled from the action, finishing third in the American in minutes played (875:16). Carroll earned the second-best goals-against average in the conference (11.04)and received national attention in the first week of the season. She put together one of the best goalie performances in recent memory in the opener against Army. Carroll racked up 12 saves against 15 shots faced on target in her first start in Cherry and White. Her .800 save percentage is the highest single-game save percentage recorded since Temple began keeping track of the stat in 2010. She received AAC and IWLCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts.
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Temple will be back in action tomorrow against Vanderbilt in the American Tournament semifinals. Draw against the Commodores is at 7:15 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Mastropietro was also awarded first-team All-Conference honors last season, as well as being selected to the All-AAC Tournament team. For Nicolai, it is the first time she has been named to the All-AAC squad, although she was named to the All Big-Ten tournament team during her final season at Penn State in 2021.
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A junior attacker, Roth was named a preseason All-Conference selection prior to the start of the season. For juniors McGowan (attacker) and Tobin (midfielder), it is their first time being named to an All-Conference team. For sophomore Barber, it is her first time earning her way to an All-Conference squad. Shallow earned her way onto the All-AAC Tournament team in 2021 and was named Preseason All-Conference prior to the 2022 season. Goalkeeper Carroll had only appeared in nine games in her career prior to arriving on North Broad as a graduate transfer. This is her first All-Conference appearance.
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Mastropietro was outstanding in all phases of the game. The midfielder led the Owls in points (63), finished second on the team in goals (42), assists (21), shots (109), game-winning goals (2), free-position goals (11), and was third in ground balls (28) and caused turnovers (13). Mastropietro finished in the top six in the American in six different statistical categories, including goals and assists. Where the junior truly stood out though, was the draw control circle. Mastropietro set a new single-season record for draw controls (96), surpassing the mark of 87 Bridget Whitaker set last season. She leads the American in draw controls per game (6.00) by a wide margin. Mastropietro won AAC Weekly awards in nine out of 12 weeks.
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Nicolai took her game to a new level after arriving as a grad transfer from Penn State. The midfielder became the first 50-goal scorer on a Temple lacrosse team since 2004 this season. She also led the team in shots on goal (94), game-winning goals (3), and free-position goals (12). Nicolai placed second on the squad with 29 ground balls and contributed nine assists, 12 caused turnovers, and 10 draw controls. Nicolai's 50 goals rank fourth in the American. She earned four AAC Weekly Honors and was a finalist for Inside Lacrosse's Women Player of the Week following a seven-goal performance against Saint Joseph's.Â
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Roth thrived in her new role as Temple's primary distributor. The attacker racked up 36 assists this season, good for second in the American and 12th nationally. She also ranks third all-time in Temple single-season assists and is eighth all-time in career assists (60). In the game against No. 13 Rutgers, Roth passed for five assists to tie for the third-most in a single game in Temple history. Roth also ranks fourth on the team in goals with 22 and third in shot percentage (.564). The attacker also found ways to impact the game on the defensive side of the ball, leading all attackers in ground balls (21) and caused turnovers (9). Roth was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll five times.
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McGowan roared back onto the scene after suffering a season-ending injury prior to the 2021 season. The attacker was one of the most efficient shooters in the nation, putting a staggering 90.6% of her shots on net. McGowan ranked third on the team with 29 goals, with the lion's share coming in the second half of the season. The junior scored in every contest from the 3/11 game against Delaware onwards. This included a seven-goal outburst in a key victory over Vanderbilt that earned McGowan AAC Attacker of the Week.
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Tobin was the epitome of a hustle player for the Owls this season. The midfielder scored 13 goals and scooped four ground balls, also causing a turnover and controlled four draws. Tobin was critical to the team's energy on and off the field. She was often among the first players back in transition and was a key player in the midfield all year. The junior scored at least one goal in seven of the last nine games, including her first career hat trick at East Carolina.
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Shallow staked her claim among the best defenders in the American in 2022. The sophomore ranked first in the American in both caused turnovers and ground balls, with 31 and 39, respectively. The defender also finished third on Temple in draw controls (37). Shallow ranked 13th nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.94). While Shallow had several impressive single-game performances, including Villanova, No. 5 Syracuse, East Carolina, and Old Dominion, her best game came at Monmouth. The defender set new career-highs in ground balls (7) and draw controls (6), and set a season-high in caused turnovers (5). Shallow was named AAC Defender of the Week for the final week of the season.
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After an impressive rookie campaign that saw her start all 19 games, Barber took her game to a new level this season. The defensive midfielder ranked 14th in the conference with 1.57 ground balls per game. She ranked second on the team in caused turnovers with 15 and added a whole new dimension to her game this season on the draw control circle. The sophomore piled on 47 draw controls this season, good for second on the team. Her 3.36 draw controls per game places her at ninth in the American. She was twice named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.
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Carroll started every game in goal for the Owls after transferring in from UConn over the summer. She finished with 117 saves, and an 11-4 record on the season. Carroll was rarely pulled from the action, finishing third in the American in minutes played (875:16). Carroll earned the second-best goals-against average in the conference (11.04)and received national attention in the first week of the season. She put together one of the best goalie performances in recent memory in the opener against Army. Carroll racked up 12 saves against 15 shots faced on target in her first start in Cherry and White. Her .800 save percentage is the highest single-game save percentage recorded since Temple began keeping track of the stat in 2010. She received AAC and IWLCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts.
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Temple will be back in action tomorrow against Vanderbilt in the American Tournament semifinals. Draw against the Commodores is at 7:15 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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