April 26, 2018
The Game: Vanderbilt Lacrosse vs. Denver
The Time: Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m.
The Place: Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex – Nashville, Tenn.
The Broadcast: Facebook Live broadcast at Facebook.com/VanderbiltAthletics
Vanderbilt lacrosse finishes up the 2018 season on home turf Saturday afternoon, as the Commodores look to play spoiler against Denver on Youth Day.
The Commodores (8-8, 3-5 BIG EAST) were eliminated from postseason contention last Sunday with a 20-19 loss at UConn, while the Pioneers (10-5, 5-3 BIG EAST) can secure a conference tournament berth with a win.
The Dores’ overtime loss to UConn, which featured the highest combined goal total in Vanderbilt and BIG EAST history, saw a pair of Commodores reach major milestones.
Senior attacker Kayla Peterson scored five goals in the game, bringing her season total to 56 goals and giving her sole possession of the Vanderbilt record for most goals in a season, passing Sarah Downing’s mark of 55 set in 2009. The senior from Hagerstown, Maryland is now two goals away from claiming 10th place on Vanderbilt’s all-time goal scoring list.
Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson tied her season-high with seven points on five goals and two assists against the Huskies, giving her 101 points through 31 collegiate games and making her just one of 12 current sophomores in all of Division I to reach the 100-point mark.
Opening draw is at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the VU Lacrosse Complex. Youth Day festivities begin with a kids’ fun zone in the McGugin Center parking lot at noon, and conclude after the game as all kids are invited on the field to play catch with Vanderbilt’s players. Bring your lacrosse sticks and join the Dores for a fun afternoon!
Series History
This is the eighth meeting in lacrosse between Vanderbilt and Denver, with the Commodores trailing the series, 4-3. Vanderbilt is 1-1 against the Pioneers all-time at home. Denver won last season’s meeting, 17-4. Julie Blaze scored two goals in the loss for the Commodores.
Trailing the Pioneers
Vanderbilt is eliminated from postseason contention and tied with Villanova for seventh in the BIG EAST entering the season’s final game, with Denver tied for third and controlling their own destiny for the conference tournament. The Pioneers clinch the three seed with a win, and would only miss the conference tournament with a loss accompanied by wins by Marquette and Temple.
Reaching the Century Mark
Senior attacker Kayla Peterson scored her 100th collegiate goal on April 8 at Marquette, and is now 12th in Vanderbilt history with 109 goals. Last Sunday, Peterson set a new single season program-record by scoring her 56th goal, passing Sarah Downing’s 55 goals in 2009. Peterson scored her 100th collegiate point at Butler on March 25. Entering her last collegiate game, Peterson is one goal away from joining the top 10 goal scorers in team history, and can take sole possession of 10th place with two goals vs. Denver.
Vanderbilt’s all-time leading goal scorers (began Division 1 play in 1996):
- Sue Napolitano 167
- Margie Curran 163
- Sarah Downing 146
- Kristin Ehst 136
- Kate Hickman 133
- Ally Carey 132
- Katherine Denkler 128
- Carter Foote 118
- Jess Roguski 117
- April Tellam 110
- Mallory Schonk 110
- Kayla Peterson 109
- Cara Giordano 101
- Kelly Chandler 93
Shooters Shoot
Vanderbilt’s offense is 11th nationally with 34.06 shots per game and 17th in Division I with 25.06 shots on goal per game. Vanderbilt is also 22nd nationally with 14.31 goals per game.
Individual Milestones
Vanderbilt senior attacker Kayla Peterson scored her 100th collegiate goal on April 8 against Marquette and her 100th career point in the win over Butler on March 25. The senior from Hagerstown, Md. has scored 109 goals along with 18 assists in her career for a total of 127 points, and is the 13th player in program history to reach the 100-goal plateau. Peterson is now eighth in program history with 99 draw controls, and is 6 draws away from tying former teammate Kelly Chandler for seventh place. Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson scored her 50th career goal vs. Oregon on March 28 and 100th collegiate point at UConn Sunday, and junior midfielder Melanie Becker scored her 50th career point at Butler on March 25.
