March 21, 2013
PHILADELPHIA – A five-goal rally by the Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse took Thursday’s game to overtime, but Penn’s Iris Williamson scored twice in the second overtime period to give the Quakers a 14-13 victory at Franklin Field.
Vanderbilt trailed 11-6 with 19 minutes left in the game before rallying. Freshman Emma Dagres sparked the comeback with her speed, scoring a transition goal off an assist by senior Olivia Goodman. Five Commodores would score goals, with Dagres finding the net a second time, during a six-goal run that gave Vanderbilt a 12-11 lead at the 3:35 mark when junior Abby Wheeler scored on a free position shot.
The Quakers evened the match three minutes later when Tory Bensen scored an unassisted goal with just :25 seconds to play.
The first overtime period ended without a goal,, but the Commodores took a 13-12 lead just 18 seconds into the second overtime period. Dagres won the period’s opening draw control and Goodman fed senior Courtney Kirk, who scored her first goal of the season to give VU the lead.
Iris Williamson completed a hat-trick to knot the game up at 13-13 a minute later, then netted her fourth of the game with :46 seconds to play. Penn took the ensuing draw, but Wheeler forced a late Quaker turnover. The Commodores, however, were unable to convert before time ran out.
“Another strong effort by our team in coming back,” VU Head Coach Cathy Swezey said. “But we need to learn that comebacks would not be necessary if we could avoid the 10-15 minute lulls that we have been having. We were pleased with the freshmen effort and hat-tricks by Alexa Kunowsky, Mallory Schonk and Emma Dagres.”
A total of seven Commodores scored goals in the game. Senior Carly Linthicum was held to only one goal for the first time this season.
Defensively, Wheeler and junior Brandi Byner each caused two Quaker miscues. They each picked up two ground balls, along with a pair from senior Paige Cahill. Goalkeeper Chelsea Pasfield made nine saves on the day.
Vanderbilt returns home on Tuesday, March 26, to play host to No. 14 Stanford. Admission to the game is free.
