Dores Close Nonconference Schedule at The Plex

Vandy faces Penn State Wednesday, then will host Rutgers Monday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt lacrosse will host Penn St. on Wednesday at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex. The Commodores will then host Rutgers on Monday, March 13 before opening conference play on the road.

Last Outing

Last weekend, the Dores fell 24-7 to third-ranked Northwestern despite Josie Ward tallying her first career hat trick.

Northwestern opened the game with a quick goal, but Kemper Robinson responded less than 30 seconds later to even the score, 1-1. The Wildcats scored four unanswered before Ward found the back of the net for the first time this season. Vandy trailed 5-2 at the end of the first.

Northwestern opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals from Samantha Smith but the Dores went on to score three straight from Molly Finlay, Paige Finneran and Ward to come within three, 5-8. Ward scored her third goal of the game at the 2:53 mark and Vanderbilt trailed 13-6 at the break.

The Wildcats held the Dores scoreless in the third outscoring Vandy 8-0 in the period. Bri Gross scored Vandy’s only goal of the second half mid-fourth quarter.

Opponent Review

Penn State

The Nittany Lions were handed their first loss of the season by eighth-ranked Loyola last weekend. Junior Kristin O’Neill has scored at least one goal in nine straight games. PSU’s goalie, Ashley Bowan, made a season-high nine saves in the 11-7 loss.

The Commodore-Nittany Lion series dates to 1997, with Penn State leading the charge 14-7 and having won eight-straight games. The Dores last hosted Penn State in 2020, losing a close 14-13 game.

Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights fell to 3-2 on the season, after dropping 18-12 to No. 15 Princeton last week. Rutgers senior Cassidy Spilis netted four goals and added a season-high eight draw controls. RU tied the game at halftime, but was outscored 10-4 in the final 30 minutes, including a 6-1 scoring advantage for Princeton in the fourth quarter.

Monday’s game will be the first meeting between Vanderbilt and Rutgers.

Record Watches

  • Gross needs just 4 draw controls to tie the Vanderbilt career record (263), which is held by Ally Carey (2009–12).
  • Paige Gunning has 431 career saves, just 57 saves shy of tying the career record of 488 saves set by Ashley Bastinelli (2002–05).

Penn State and Rutgers will face off in a neutral site competition at The Plex on Saturday, March 11.