GREENVILLE, N.C. — Gabby Fornia scored the game-tying and winning goals Thursday as Vanderbilt defeated Temple 11-10 in overtime to advance to the American Athletic Conference championship game Saturday.
Fornia scored four goals with an assist in the fourth quarter and overtime to help lead the Dores back from a three-goal deficit.
The game-tying goal came with just 11 seconds left in regulation. Trailing Temple 10-9 in the final minute, goalie Paige Gunning charged forward out of goal and intercepted a Temple pass near midfield, giving Vanderbilt one final chance to tie.
GABBY FORNIA TIES IT WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT @VandyLacrosse pic.twitter.com/NcxK3c3Vhx
— American Women’s Lax (@American_WLax) May 6, 2022
The Dores ripped a shot with 20 seconds left that missed high and Fornia gathered the loose ball behind the net. The fifth-year senior looked for an open teammate but ended up keeping it and found the back of the net to tie the game and force overtime.
𝘿𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙣
⚓️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ycin2F2C2I
— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) May 6, 2022
Vanderbilt and Temple battled back and forth all evening at Johnson Stadium.
The Commodores got off to a hot start with a goal from Karlie Bucci at the 9:58 mark and followed it with a Maddie Souza goal just 12 seconds later to lead 2-0.
After Temple got on the board, Vandy responded with a second goal from Souza to go back in front by two with a little more than five minutes to go in the period.
Temple clawed back with three consecutive goals to go in front 4-3, but Bri Gross beat the buzzer on a free position shot at the end of the first to even the score at 4-4.
The fast pace slowed in the second quarter with the Owls scoring the only two goals of the period, taking a 6-4 advantage into halftime.
Vanderbilt got back in the scoring column late in the third as Melissa Hawkins delivered a perfect pass to Callie Sundin who found the back of the net to cut Temple’s lead to 7-5 with 2:30 left in the quarter.
Gross cut Temple’s lead to just one with 12:10 to go on her second goal of the night. After Temple went back up by a pair, Bucci beat the Temple keeper with 5:35 remaining to once again cut the Owls’ lead to one.
The Owls again had an answer, however, and went ahead, 9-7, just moments later. The back-and-forth continued as Fornia scored with 3:59 on the clock, but the Owls took a 10-8 lead with just over 60 seconds later.
Fornia tallied the fourth-quarter hat trick with her third goal at the 2:18 mark, setting up the exciting finish to regulation and overtime.
While Fornia shined on offense, Gunning totaled 11 saves in goal and played a crucial role in keeping Vanderbilt within striking distance.
Thursday’s win marks Vanderbilt’s first AAC Tournament victory in its third appearance.
The No. 3-seeded Dores will face top-seeded Florida at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN+.
Fornia’s OT Goal Sends Dores to Championship Game by Vanderbilt Athletics on on Exposure
