Riley Horoshko is an American college lacrosse goalkeeper who represented Temple University and became the 2026 American Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. After receiving limited playing opportunities during her first three seasons, she emerged as Temple’s starting goalkeeper and earned national and regional recognition for her performances.
Her senior campaign included a decisive opportunity against Delaware, consistent starting appearances, and recognition from major collegiate lacrosse organisations.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Riley Horoshko |
| Hometown | Macungie, Pennsylvania |
| High school | Allentown Central Catholic High School |
| University | Temple University |
| Playing position | Goalkeeper |
| Jersey number | 43 |
| Major achievement | 2026 American Conference Goalkeeper of the Year |
| Field of study | Exercise & Sport Science |
Who Is Riley Horoshko in College Lacrosse?
Riley Horoshko is a former Temple University women’s lacrosse player who completed her senior season in 2026. Originally from Macungie, Pennsylvania, she played as a goalkeeper wearing jersey number 43.
She attracted wider attention during her final collegiate season after progressing from a reserve role to becoming one of the leading goalkeepers in the American Conference.
On April 29, 2026, Horoshko received the conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and earned First Team All-Conference recognition. She was the first Temple player to receive the goalkeeper honour.
Her senior campaign also brought national recognition, including a USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American selection.
Her development was particularly notable because she had made only five appearances across her first two seasons and had not appeared in a competitive game during 2025.
Riley Horoshko’s Lacrosse Background and College Recruitment
Horoshko attended Allentown Central Catholic High School, where she developed her goalkeeping skills before joining Temple.
According to reporting by The Temple News, she began playing lacrosse in fourth grade. She also participated in volleyball, giving her experience in another competitive team sport.
During high school, Horoshko established herself as a goalkeeper and served as team captain in her senior year. She received defensive MVP recognition and, as a junior, recorded 208 saves in one season, a school record cited in her official Temple biography.
According to her July 2026 interview with Lax Goalie Rat, Horoshko entered club lacrosse during the summer before her senior year of high school, despite having played the sport since childhood.
She also described contacting college coaches while pursuing opportunities to play at university level. That recruitment process eventually led her to Temple University, where she joined the women’s lacrosse programme in 2023.
Three Seasons of Limited Playing Time at Temple
Horoshko’s first three seasons at Temple involved considerably less competitive action than her final year.
She appeared in three games during 2023 and made another two appearances in 2024. In 2025, she did not enter a competitive game.
Another example is Jenika Cuocco’s goalkeeping career, which included a redshirt season at Drexel before she became an award-winning college goalkeeper.
During that period, she trained alongside other goalkeepers while competing for opportunities within the squad. Her development continued despite the limited minutes available to her.
In an interview published by The Temple News on April 7, 2026, Horoshko discussed the patience required when a player is not regularly selected.
She explained the importance of continuing to practise and improve instead of allowing limited playing time to determine her commitment to the sport.
The goalkeeper also acknowledged the influence of teammates who supported and challenged one another during training. Horoshko described the support and competition within Temple’s goalkeeper group as important parts of her development.
By the beginning of her senior campaign, Horoshko had accumulated relatively little college game experience. However, she remained part of the programme and was available when an opportunity arose in Temple’s opening game of 2026.
The Delaware Comeback That Changed Her 2026 Season
Horoshko’s breakthrough came on February 6, 2026, when Temple faced Delaware in its season opener.
Colleen Berardino started the game in goal, but Horoshko entered after Temple fell behind. Her appearance provided an opportunity to contribute during a competitive match rather than in a limited reserve role.
She made six saves as the Owls recovered to secure a 12–10 victory.
The performance became an important moment in her senior season. After spending three seasons with limited playing time, she went on to start 15 of Temple’s 17 games in 2026.
The Delaware match also featured prominently in the April 2026 reporting about her progress. Rather than focusing solely on the victory, the account explored the preparation that had preceded her opportunity.
The contrast with her earlier seasons was substantial. Horoshko moved from five appearances across 2023 and 2024, followed by no appearances in 2025, to playing in every game of Temple’s 2026 campaign.
Her Goalkeeping Performances and 2026 Awards
Horoshko’s senior season produced her most substantial collegiate playing record.
Across 17 appearances, including 15 starts, she recorded seven games with double-digit saves. Her highest single-game total was 14 saves against Saint Joseph’s, and she also collected 27 ground balls.
Temple published two sets of goalkeeping figures for Horoshko’s 2026 season. Its season summary lists a .527 save percentage and an 8.25 goals-against average, while its conference-ranking summary reports .525 and 8.64. The university’s published summaries do not explain the discrepancy.
Her individual honours provide a clearer record of how her 2026 performances were recognised.
On April 29, the American Conference named her Goalkeeper of the Year and selected her for its All-Conference First Team.
Further recognition followed in May.
USA Lacrosse named Horoshko an Honorable Mention All-American on May 7, placing her among the Division I women’s lacrosse players recognised in its national awards.
She also earned selection to the IWLCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second Team, an honour Temple confirmed on May 14.
Later that month, Horoshko was selected for the 2026 IWLCA Division I Senior All-Star Game. She joined Temple teammates Lexi Culp and Kaitlyn Stankavage among the players chosen for the event.
The game took place on May 30, with Horoshko assigned to the White team. Her Temple player biography also records her participation.
These achievements followed a season in which she became a regular starter for the first time in her college career.
What Horoshko Revealed About Goalkeeper Training and Mindset
Following her final Temple season, Horoshko appeared on the Lax Goalie Rat podcast in an interview published on July 8, 2026.
The discussion covered her playing background, recruitment experience, goalkeeper development, and approach to handling pressure during games.
One recurring subject was the importance of enjoying lacrosse.
Horoshko discussed remaining relaxed rather than becoming overly concerned about individual mistakes or comparing herself with other goalkeepers. Her comments connected enjoyment with maintaining concentration during competitive situations.
The interview also explored specific methods she used to stay focused.
These included controlled breathing, brief mental resets and communication with defenders. Such routines formed part of her approach to managing the demands of playing in goal.
Her technical preparation included exercises designed to improve reactions to low shots. The interview described drills involving tennis balls and footwork practice without a stick.
Horoshko also discussed her left-handed playing stance and the importance of developing techniques that suited her approach to goalkeeping.
Beyond her own performances, she spoke about coaching younger goalkeepers in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.
Her guidance encouraged young athletes to enjoy playing, avoid unnecessary comparisons,s and participate in different sports while developing their abilities.
On July 22, 2026, Temple announced Horoshko’s selection to the IWLCA Division I Academic Honor Roll for the 2025–26 academic year.
Temple recognised Horoshko on its 2026 academic honour list, which required athletes to maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA.
Her final collegiate season brought recognition for both her goalkeeping performances and academic work, following three years in which competitive playing opportunities had been limited.