Feb. 3, 2013
The Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team dropped its 2013 season opener Sunday, falling to homestanding Jacksonville by a 15-7 tally at JU’s D.B. Milne Field.
The Commodores got on the board first when senior Carly Linthicum scored less than three minutes into the game, but the Dolphins would shut down Vanderbilt for the remained of the half. After tying the game in ninth minute, Jacksonville would score the next seven goals–including one with less than two seconds remaining–to take an 8-1 advantage into the break.
The second half began in a similar manner with Jacksonville scoring the first three goals of the period to take a 10-goal lead with 24 minutes to play. By the time Vanderbilt began to find a rhythm, it was too late.
Junior Abby Wheeler scored in the 39th minute as the teams began to trade goals over the game’s final 20 minutes. Linthicum would score four more goals in the second half to lead all scorers with five goals–two of which were assisted by classmate Courtney Kirk.
Senior goalkeeper Chelsea Pasfield made a career-high 11 saves behind the Commodore defense, and was credited with a team-high three ground balls–a mark matched by freshman Amanda Lockwood. Junior captain Alyssa Dunlap led the Commodores with two caused turnovers.
Morgan Derner and Amanda Hurley scored four goals each for the Dolphins, while goalkeeper Karli Tobin stopped nine Vanderbilt shots.
Replacing a total of nine seniors from last year’s squad, Head Coach Cathy Swezey went with four freshmen starters–Ashlin Dolan, Mallory Schonk and Kelly Chandler in the midfield and Alexa Kunowsky on attack. Kunowsky scored a free position goal with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
“Though this is a tough loss for our team and program, our young players gained valuable experience,” Swezey said. “We’ll learn from this game and work hard to improve.”
The Commodores will open their 2013 home schedule next Sunday, Feb. 10, when Kennesaw State visits the VU Lacrosse Complex. The game’s first draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
