Temple University Athletics
Thursday, May 5
Greenville, N.C.
7:15 PM
Temple University
vs
Vanderbilt (Semifinals)
Photo by: Peter Hou
Lacrosse Prepares to Face Vanderbilt in AAC Semifinals
5.4.22 | Women's Lacrosse
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Temple lacrosse team (11-5, 4-1 AAC) kicks off postseason play Thursday night as the Owls face the Vanderbilt Commodores in the American Athletic Conference tournament semifinals. The Owls also faced the Commodores in the semifinals last season, with Temple coming out on top 16-11.
LAST TIME OUT
> Temple hammered Old Dominion 17-7 to secure its best conference winning percentage since 2008 (.800).
> The game was tied at six at halftime. The Owls dominated the second half, outpacing the Lady Monarchs 11-1.
> Quinn Nicolai and Abaigeal Ryan scored four goals each for Temple. Nicolai also scooped four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Her final goal of the contest was the 50th of her season. She is the first Temple player to score at least 50 goals in a season since Tiffany Pulaski in 2004.
> Mastropietro scored one and passed for three assists. She also racked up 11 draw controls to move to 96 controls on the season, shattering the previous single-season record for draw controls (87) set last season by Bridget Whitaker.
> Annie Carroll made 11 saves in goal, while facing 18 shots on target.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
> For the fifth straight week, the Owls received votes in the IWCLA/Inside Lacrosse Coaches/Media poll.
> Mastropietro finished the regular season 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.
> Mackenzie Roth 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).
> Nicolai is an elite goal scorer. Her 50 scorers place her at fourth in the American. She also leads 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
> Katie Shallow continues to star for the Cherry and White defense. The sophomore ranks first in the American in both caused turnovers and ground balls, with 31 and 39, respectively. The defender also is third on Temple in draw controls (37). Shallow ranks 13th nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.94).
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SCOUTING VANDERBILT
> Vanderbilt earned its first NCAA tournament berth since 2010 last season. This year was another solid year for the Commodores. Vandy earned a 10-6 record, including a victory over then-No. 12 Notre Dame. In the last two games, Vanderbilt defeated Old Dominion 20-9, and Cincinnati 23-7.
> 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 107-44 and 36-24 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 523 assists. She also has scored 23 goals. She is one of five Commodores with at least 20 goals. Bri Gross is a two-way star, with top ten rankings in the American in goals, ground balls, and caused turnovers.
SERIES HISTORY vs. VANDERBILT
> This is the eleventh meeting between these two programs. Temple leads 8-2.
> 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.
> Earlier this season, Temple took down Vanderbilt 20-9 in Philadelphia. The loss was tied for the worst of the season for Vanderbilt and is also tied for the largest margin of victory this season for Temple.
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LAST TIME OUT
> Temple hammered Old Dominion 17-7 to secure its best conference winning percentage since 2008 (.800).
> The game was tied at six at halftime. The Owls dominated the second half, outpacing the Lady Monarchs 11-1.
> Quinn Nicolai and Abaigeal Ryan scored four goals each for Temple. Nicolai also scooped four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Her final goal of the contest was the 50th of her season. She is the first Temple player to score at least 50 goals in a season since Tiffany Pulaski in 2004.
> Mastropietro scored one and passed for three assists. She also racked up 11 draw controls to move to 96 controls on the season, shattering the previous single-season record for draw controls (87) set last season by Bridget Whitaker.
> Annie Carroll made 11 saves in goal, while facing 18 shots on target.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
> For the fifth straight week, the Owls received votes in the IWCLA/Inside Lacrosse Coaches/Media poll.
> Mastropietro finished the regular season 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.
> Mackenzie Roth 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).
> Nicolai is an elite goal scorer. Her 50 scorers place her at fourth in the American. She also leads 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
> Katie Shallow continues to star for the Cherry and White defense. The sophomore ranks first in the American in both caused turnovers and ground balls, with 31 and 39, respectively. The defender also is third on Temple in draw controls (37). Shallow ranks 13th nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.94).
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SCOUTING VANDERBILT
> Vanderbilt earned its first NCAA tournament berth since 2010 last season. This year was another solid year for the Commodores. Vandy earned a 10-6 record, including a victory over then-No. 12 Notre Dame. In the last two games, Vanderbilt defeated Old Dominion 20-9, and Cincinnati 23-7.
> 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 107-44 and 36-24 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 523 assists. She also has scored 23 goals. She is one of five Commodores with at least 20 goals. Bri Gross is a two-way star, with top ten rankings in the American in goals, ground balls, and caused turnovers.
SERIES HISTORY vs. VANDERBILT
> This is the eleventh meeting between these two programs. Temple leads 8-2.
> 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.
> Earlier this season, Temple took down Vanderbilt 20-9 in Philadelphia. The loss was tied for the worst of the season for Vanderbilt and is also tied for the largest margin of victory this season for Temple.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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