May 4, 2007
BALTIMORE, Md. — The 10th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team dropped a 12-10 decision to No. 8 Johns Hopkins Friday in the semifinals of the inaugural American Lacrosse Conference Tournament at Homewood Field.
Senior Kendall Thrift scored four goals, including three consecutive tallies in a 42-second span late in the game to bring the Commodores within striking distance.
With four minutes remaining and the Commodores trailing by five, Thrift scored three straight goals (at 3:52, 3:21 and 3:10 on the clock) to bring the score back to 12-10. The run included two draw controls by sophomore Cara Giordano and one by freshman Sarah Downing, and an assist from freshman Allie Frank.
After another Vanderbilt draw control, Hopkins regained control when the Commodores were whistled for a loose-ball foul. The Bluejays ran out the remaining 2:40 of the game to secure victory, 12-10.
The Commodores gave up early goals for the second straight week. The Bluejays scored twice in the first minute of the game, getting on the board first only 16 seconds into the contest when Mary Key scored on a breakaway off the opening draw.
More than 12 minutes elapsed before the Commodores took their first shot, as a Tapscott attempt was saved by JHU goalkeeper Amelia Harris. Thrift would put Vanderbilt on the scoreboard in the 15th minute after driving past no fewer than three Hopkins defenders. Giordano scored a free position goal less than a minute later to bring the Commodores within one (3-2).
Hopkins would score twice in the next 50 seconds to increase its lead back to three (5-2). Curran sandwiched a pair of goals around two Bluejay goals, and Hopkins led 7-4 at halftime.
The teams traded goals in the second half, with Vanderbilt unable to cut the lead below three. Giordano, Frank and Curran all notched goals for the Commodores in the second half to set up Thrift’s burst.
Junior Sasha Cielak caused three turnovers and picked up three ground balls to lead the Commodore defense. Giordano had a team-high five draw controls.
Both goalkeepers registered double-digit saves, with VU junior Brooke Shinaberry making 10 saves and Harris making 12 stops.
Hopkins advances to the championship game on Sunday, May 6, at 1 p.m. ET. The Bluejays will face Northwestern, a 19-7 winner of Penn State in Friday’s first semifinal.
Vanderbilt returns to Nashville and will await word on their postseason fate. Bids for the 2007 NCAA Tournament will be announced on Monday afternoon.
