Temple Takes Four-Game Winning Streak to Georgetown Friday in BIG EAST Opener

PHILADELPHIA – After a strong 6-1 start to the season, with its lone loss coming against a nationally ranked opponent, the Temple University field hockey team looks to extend its winning streak to five in its BIG EAST Conference opener Friday at 1 p.m. at Georgetown.

Game 8 | at Georgetown (2-4)
Friday, Sept. 19 – 1 p.m.
Location: Kehoe Field – Washington, D.C.
TV: No stream available | Live Stats: Sidearm Sports

Social Media
Twitter/X: @TempleFH | Instagram: @templefieldhockey

Scouting Temple

Senior midfielder Peyton Rieger has been on a tear. After not scoring in the first four games of the season, the captain from Woolwich, N.J., has posted four goals in the past three contests, including game-winners in three straight.

Goalkeeper Alex Lepore has anchored the defense with back-to-back shutouts and has not allowed a goal in her past 11 quarters of action. She enters Friday with a streak of 172:43 without conceding, lowering her goals-against average to 1.39 and raising her save percentage to .704. Lepore currently ranks 25th nationally in goals-against average.

Head coach Michelle Vittese became the sixth coach in program history to reach 50 career wins, accomplishing the feat in the fewest games since 1992. Vittese owns a 50-34 record in 84 games, with only Gwen Cheeseman (50-10-2, 1980-83), Anne Volp (50-11-5, 1949-59) and Michele Madison (50-20-4, 1989-92) reaching the milestone faster.

With a win against the Hoyas, Temple would improve to 7-1 for the second time in the Vittese era, having also done so in 2022. Prior to that, the Owls last opened 7-1 in 1984, when they rattled off 10 straight wins after a season-opening loss to Northwestern.

Scouting Georgetown

The Hoyas (2-4) enter Friday's conference opener with wins over Davidson (2-1) and Lock Haven (4-1) and losses to App State (3-1), Sacred Heart (3-2, 2OT), Richmond (2-1) and VCU (2-0).

Friday marks Georgetown's first true home game of the season after playing four neutral-site contests in Towson, Md., followed by a road swing in Virginia.

Sydney Yodh leads the Hoyas with three goals and two assists for eight points. Izzy Lee and Caroline Suko have each tallied two goals.

In goal, Ella Fahey has started all six contests, splitting time evenly with Alex Duff, who has entered at halftime each game. Fahey holds the advantage in goals-against average (1.23) and save percentage (.765), ranking 14th nationally in GAA.

All-Time Series vs. Georgetown

Temple leads the all-time series 12-5. The Owls have won three straight against the Hoyas and eight of 11 matchups since joining the BIG EAST as an associate member in 2013. In that span, Temple has outscored Georgetown 28-12.