April 16, 2016
STORRS, Conn. – Vanderbilt rallied back from a 6-1 first half deficit to be just in reach of the UConn Huskies Saturday afternoon, but the Commodores’ gradual start ultimately led to the squad’s fourth BIG EAST loss of the season, 13-10.
“We felt good about our game plan coming into the game, but we got a slow start,” said head coach Cathy Swezey. “We have had a few games that we have given up early goals, and almost always the number we give up without matching, ends up being the goal differential at the end of the game.”
Leading the Commodores in scoring was senior Mallory Schonk who earned four goals off seven shots. Callahan Kent earned double digit saves yet again, walking away from UConn with now a total of 143 saves on the season. Jill Doherty was dominant on the draw with six, as the Commodores outhustled the Huskies to go 13-12.
“Cal had another great game. And we had several players that stood out in different categories. We will keep working hard, our girls continue to be motivated.”
The Huskies drew first blood in Saturday morning’s competition, taking three goals in a row, before leading scorer Kelly Chandler put the Commodores on the board with her 33rd goal this season. The Huskies responded with a goal of their own by Grace Nolan, to inch further away with the lead.
Following by a yellow card on the `Dores, UConn scored twice more before Vandy’s senior scorer, Schonk, could earn her first goal of the day. At the end of the first half the Commodores trailed by a 8-4 deficit, with closing goals by freshman Julie Blaze and Schonk in the last two minutes.
Coming out of the locker room both teams exchanged goals twice, with Schonk putting the Commodores just in range after turning and firing straight past goalie Shannon Nee to make the score, 10-7 Huskies.
Down the largest deficit of the second half, 12-7, Vanderbilt took four of the last five goals as the Commodores’ Kayla Peterson and Blaze scored one apiece with 7:22 left. Alexa Kunowsky earned the final goal of the game, but UConn’s first-half lead was enough to leave them ahead at the end 13-10.
Vanderbilt will have its final road test this Wednesday, as the team travels to Milwaukee, Wisc. to take on Marquette on April 20th.
