Temple took the series-opener against Cincinnati Friday night in the only American Athletic Conference game of the day as the Owls rallied from a five-goal first-half deficit to improve to 3-2 in league play.


TEMPLE 16, CINCINNATI 14
CINCINNATI - Bridget Whitaker scored a game-high five goals, including three in the second half, as Temple overcame an early 8-3 deficit to take a 16-14 win against Cincinnati Friday afternoon at Nippert Stadium.

Meghan Hoffman added a hat trick for the Bearcats, who scored the last two goals of the first half and reeled off the first three of the second half to tie the game at 8-8.

With Temple trailing 11-10 midway through the second half, Whitaker scored back-to-back goals to give the Owls their first lead of the game at 12-11. 

Alyssa Adams struck for Cincinnati with her fourth goal of the game to tie it at 12-12 with 10:47 to play, but Temple answered witih scores by Mackenzie Roth and Abigeal Ryan to build a 14-12 lead with 7:45 left.

Adams again had an answer for Cincinnati as she brought the Bearcats within one with 5:31 left, but Whitaker's fifth goal gave Temple a 15-13 cushion before Roth added another insurance goal to make it a three-goal game with 3:22 to play.

Whitaker and Hoffman both finished with seven points as Whitaker added two assists for her five goals, while Hoffman had three goals and four assists for the Owls, who improved to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the American Athletic Confernence. 

Adams matched Whitaker's game-high five goals, while Monica Borzillo had two goals and two assists for the Bearcats, who fell to 4-7 overall and 0-5 in conference play.