EVANSTON, Ill. — Vanderbilt lacrosse felt to third-ranked Northwestern, 24-7, on Saturday afternoon at Ryan Fieldhouse.
Vandy sophomore Josie Ward recorded her first-career hat trick on just five shots.
Northwestern opened the game with a quick goal, but Kemper Robinson responded less than 30 seconds later to even the score, 1-1. The Wildcats scored four unanswered before Ward found the back of the net for the first time this season. Vandy trailed 5-2 at the end of the first.
Northwestern opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals from Samantha Smith but the Dores went on to score three straight from Molly Finlay, Paige Finneran and Ward to come within three, 5-8. Ward scored her third goal of the game at the 2:53 mark and Vanderbilt trailed 13-6 at the break.
The Wildcats held the Dores scoreless in the third outscoring Vandy 8-0 in the period. Bri Gross scored Vandy’s only goal of the second half mid-fourth quarter.
Up Next
The Commodores return to the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex on Wednesday, hosting Penn State at 1 p.m.
