May 1, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 11th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team fell to top-ranked Northwestern Friday, 15-10, in the semifinals of the 2009 American Lacrosse Conference Tournament at Jeffrey Field.
The Commodores are only the third team to score double-figures against the undefeated Wildcats, matching a 10-goal output from earlier this season in Nashville. Vanderbilt held NU to its lowest goal total against any league opponent this season.
“We have a lot of offensive firepower,” VU Head Coach Cathy Swezey said. “And we had a good game plan against their defense. We also have a player like Sarah Downing, who has been fabulous all year. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, Sarah gets the toughest matchup and continues to score points for us.”
With three goals on Friday, Downing stands seventh all-time in goals scored with 103 for her career. The junior attacker has scored 52 goals this year to become only the third Commodore to score at least 50 goals in a season.
“I was incredibly pleased with our conditioning today,” Swezey added. “To come out the way we did today after playing yesterday is an incredible tribute to how hard our girls have worked.”
The Wildcats took a 9-3 lead into half while controlling nine of 13 draw controls in the first 30 minutes. In the second half, Vanderbilt would win eight draws compared to NU’s six.
“Ally [Carey] was unbelievable on the draw in the second half,” Swezey commented.
An All-ALC performer as a freshman, Carey came away with a game-high eight draw controls on Friday.
Junior Carter Foote also contributed three goals to the Vanderbilt attack. Other VU tallies came from juniors Laura Keenan and Allie Frank, and sophomores Katherine Denkler and Emily Franke.
The Commodores (10-6, 2-2 ALC) have already notched their third-consecutive 10-win season and await their postseason fate when the the field is announced for the 2009 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 3, at 9 p.m. CT.
