Jan. 27, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Before their first season in the BIG EAST Conference has even begun, a pair of Vanderbilt juniors have already earned honors from their new league.
Midfielder Kelly Chandler and attack Mallory Schonk (a unanimous selection) were named to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team by a vote of the league’s coaches. The Commodores were also picked to finish fourth in their first year in the BIG EAST.
Chandler, a native of Salisbury, Md., is the team’s top returning goal scorer after notching 27 goals in addition to five assists in 2014. During one four-game stretch, she scored 16 goals, including a career-high five against Louisville. She was also named American Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week.
The midfielder led the team with 50 draw controls despite missing two games with a leg injury. In only two years, she has collected 72 draw controls, which ranks seventh on the school’s all-time list.
Schonk, a native of Perry Hall, Md., was a unanimous selection to the preseason team. In two years, she has started all 34 games of her career and is coming off a sensational sophomore campaign. She led the team with 52 points and 27 assists and ranked third with 25 goals.
She twice had a career-high five assists, including in an upset victory of No. 13 Stanford, and was also named the ALC Offensive Player of the Week. In the last eight games of the season, she scored 12 goals and had eight assists. Through her first two seasons, she has posted incredible numbers with 87 points, 50 goals and 37 assists.
The Commodores were tabbed to finish fourth in the preseason poll with 32 points. Fellow new BIG EAST member Florida, which swept the last ALC regular-season and tournament championships and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, was an overwhelming favorite to win the BIG EAST with 49 points (seven first-place votes).
Georgetown, which reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished second in the BIG EAST last year, was tabbed to finish second. Connecticut was picked to finish third and received one first-place vote. Temple, Villanova, Marquette and Cincinnati rounded out the list.
The Commodores, who return 20 letterwinners and nine starters, open their season at home against Kennesaw State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the VU Lacrosse Complex.
