Carissa Vittese

Biography

Carissa Vittese returned to Temple in 2019 as a volunteer assistant coach, two years after earning her master’s degree and departing to play for Team USA. She was promoted to assistant coach in January 2020 and to associate head coach in March 2025, where she currently serves under her older sister, Michelle Vittese. The Owls posted a 12-6 record in 2025. Led by BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year Peyton Rieger and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Lucia Magro, the Owls' offense ranked second in the conference in scoring average (2.45). Rieger ranked second in the league in points per game (1.50), third in goals per game (.56) and sixth in assists per game, registering the most points (27) by an Owl since 2015. Magro shined in her debut season, earning All-BIG EAST First Team honors alongside Rieger and becoming the first Temple freshman to register 20 points since 1987. The duo also earned NFHCA All-Region Second Team honors following the season. Magro highlighted a strong freshman class that featured Mara Lenting (4G, 6A) and Kathryn Gauvin (5G, 2A), as the trio ranked among the top five on the team in points. Fellow first-year Lonneke Kerkhoff started all 18 games as a defender. Notable wins for Temple in 2025 included a 5-4 decision over Delaware, a 2-0 victory over CAA champion Drexel, a 3-2 win over Atlantic 10 finalist Richmond and a 2-1 Senior Day victory over No. 14 Yale. Three of Temple's four BIG EAST losses came by a single goal, including a 3-2 shootout loss to