Feb. 15, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The No. 12-ranked Commodore lacrosse team dropped its season opener to No. 9 North Carolina 14-13 in overtime Sunday afternoon at the VU Lacrosse Complex.
Vanderbilt trailed 3-1 in the opening minutes of the game before Cara Giordano gave VU its first lead at 4-3 with 12 minutes left in the first period. The Tar Heels then carried an 8-7 advantage into halftime.
North Carolina (1-0) charged out of the locker room to start the second period, building a 12-8 lead in the first seven minutes. The `Dores settled down, however, and battled back to pull even at 13-13 off another Giordano goal with five minutes left.
Both teams failed to net another score before the end of regulation, sending the contest into two 3-minute, overtime periods. Both teams shutdown their opponents scoring in the first OT interval, but UNC finally tallied the game-winning shot with two minutes left in the final stanza.
Giordano finished with three points (two goals and an assist) on six shots, while freshmen Ally Carey and Alex Priddy impressed in their collegiate debuts. Carey totaled two goals and an assist on four shots, and Priddy recorded four points on three goals and an assist in five shots.
Rachel Woolford recorded 11 saves in her first career start for Vanderbilt in the net.
The Commodores (0-1) return to action against UMBC at home at 1 p.m. on Feb. 21.
