NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt lacrosse team extended its winning streak to eight games with a 16-5 victory over American Athletic Conference foe Old Dominion on Thursday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
With the win, the Commodores improve to 10-2, marking the best 12-game start in program history. It is also the 11th time in the program’s 26-year history that the team has reached double-digit victories. The eight-game winning streak is the second-longest in school history.
Senior Cassidy Orban fueled the offense with three goals to go with two apiece from Griffin Gearhardt, Bri Gross and Paige Finneran. Seven other Commodores scored once, highlighted by Gabby Fornia, Kate Murphy and Lila Huddles registering a goal and an assist apiece.
Cassidy Orban gets the party started.
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🔵 01st » 28:25#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/cUi80PkUaz
— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) April 1, 2021
Fornia’s assist gives her 36 on the season, tying her own school record for single-season assists set in 2019.
In goal, Paige Gunning put on another dominating performance with 12 saves with freshman goalkeeper Lindsey Maxwell seeing her first collegiate action in the last five minutes.
“Today was an awesome team win,” Vanderbilt head coach Beth Hewitt said. “Starting with Paige Gunning in the goal, I thought the defense played really great today, played as a unit and worked really hard on the ride as well, so the attackers, it kind of started with them. Everybody was doing the little things today, and that made the biggest difference.”
Vanderbilt led from start to finish on the day, taking an early 2-0 lead in the opening three minutes. After an ODU goal, the Commodores orchestrated a 6-0 run that spanned nine minutes to stretch the advantage to 8-1.
Vandy tallied three free position goals in the final 4:13 of the first half, including one from Gearhardt with two seconds on the clock to take an 11-2 halftime lead.
In the second half, Vanderbilt outscored the Monarchs by a 5-3 margin.
Orban posted a game-high six draw controls, and senior Halle Regan helped anchor the defense with three caused turnovers and three ground balls.
The Dores and Monarchs are set to square off at 11 a.m. Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. Vanderbilt will hold a senior day ceremony prior to the game.
