NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Elizabeth Scarrone scored five times as the No. 25 Vanderbilt lacrosse team pulled away late in the second half for a 16-10 win over Central Michigan on Wednesday afternoon at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex.
Vanderbilt improved to 2-1 on the season with its second straight win. The Commodores knocked off No. 24 Colorado in overtime Sunday.
“I think it was a good team win,” Vanderbilt head coach Beth Hewitt said. “We got off to a nice, fast start. I think Central Michigan is super athletic and fast and really competitive. We knew they were going to come back and make a little bit of a run. I thought the girls did a really nice job of staying composed and coming together at some of the timeouts.”
Vanderbilt scored the first five goals and led 6-1 in the first 13 minutes. Gabby Fornia started the day with a goal in the opening three minutes before Scarrone found the back of the net for her first.
Mikela McCauley scored twice in less than a minute to stretch the advantage up to 4-0 followed by another Scarrone goal to make it 5-0.
Central Michigan (1-1) answered with the final four goals of the first half to close within 6-5 at the break, and then scored the first goal of the second half to tie the game at 6-6.
Scarrone scored her third goal of the game to put the Commodores on top, 7-6, with 25:16 to go.
The teams traded goals to a 9-9 standstill with 19:47 to play. Down the stretch, it was all Commodores as the home side scored seven of the game’s final eight goals to pull away. Maddie Souza, Scarrone and Fornia scored three-straight goals for a 12-9 lead.
After a Central Michigan goal, Scarrone, Griffin Gearhardt, Souza and Cassidy Orban finished off the Chippewas with goals in the last five minutes.
There’s having a day, and then there’s having a DAY.
Scarrone now has 5 goals.
🟡 10
⚓️ 132nd » 4:21#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/hQoUF1UQhz
— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) February 24, 2021
Souza and McCauley both finished with a hat trick while Fornia and Gross each had two assists.
American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Paige Gunning made eight saves on the day.
The Commodores led 32-26 in shots and held a 22-17 advantage in ground balls. Central Michigan held a slight 15-13 edge in draw controls.
Next up for the Commodores is the top team in the nation. Vanderbilt has a road tilt with No. 1 North Carolina at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Hear from Elizabeth Scarrone after her 5⃣-goal performance versus Central Michigan. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/55iFTJfgnL
— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) February 25, 2021
No. 25 Dores Top the Chippewas by Vanderbilt Athletics on Exposure
