GREENVILLE, N.C. – Senior Gabby Fornia broke the Vanderbilt and American Athletic Conference single-game assists record with nine to help the Commodores secure a 14-12 road win at East Carolina on Sunday. The win is the seventh in a row for Vanderbilt.
The nine assists for Fornia beats the old record of seven, which she tied earlier in the season. It is the most by an NCAA Division I student-athlete this season, and two shy of the all-time D-1 single-game assists record of 11.
Fornia also posted a hat trick in addition to her nine assists for 12 points, tying the school’s single-game points record and breaking the AAC record. The 12 points are tied with Northwestern’s Izzy Scane for the most in a D-1 game this season.
“Gabby (Fornia) had an incredible day,” Vanderbilt head coach Beth Hewitt said. “The offense as a whole took a little bit to settle in, but she came out and we talked about what we were all seeing. She went back in and made some great adjustments. Because she’s such a threat with the ball, it opens up everyone else. Three goals and nine assists is absolutely crazy against a team and a goalie we really respect. I couldn’t be more proud of Gabby.”
OK, so here is Fornia’s ninth assist of the game.
The NCAA record is 11, by the way.
⚓ 13
🟣 92nd » 10:55
#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/dSHtH21Y0d— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) March 28, 2021
The win improves Vanderbilt’s record to 9-2, tying for the best record through 11 games in Vanderbilt history. The seven-game winning streak is the second-longest in program history. The record is 10-straight wins set by the 2010 squad.
Vanderbilt remains perfect in AAC play, moving to 4-0 on the day.
In addition to Fornia’s offensive production, Griffin Gearhardt scored a career-high five goals to go with three from Maddie Souza, two from Elizabeth Scarrone and one from Nellie Blaze.
Both teams started slowly on the offensive end on Sunday with East Carolina holding a 1-0 lead 14 minutes into the game.
Blaze put the Commodores on the board with 16:06 left in the first half. The tally started a 3-0 run for Vandy that included goals from Gearhardt and Souza.
After an ECU strike to make it 3-2, the Dores reeled off the final four goals of the half for a 7-2 lead at the break. Fornia had five first-half assists, while Gearhardt finished the opening 30 minutes with three goals.
❗More Breaking News.
Griffin Gearhardt is ALSO a beast.
She has a hat trick in the first half at East Carolina.
⚓ 6
🟣 21st » 3:18#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/ab1XD9xQ6A
— Vanderbilt Lacrosse (@VandyLacrosse) March 28, 2021
The Pirates had the momentum out of halftime with two goals in the opening three minutes to pull to within three at 7-4. Goals off the sticks of Scarrone and Fornia put the Commodores back on track at 9-4 with 23:33 left.
Three-straight ECU goals were followed by Vandy goals courtesy of Souza and Gearhardt to make it 11-7.
After the Vanderbilt lead grew to five at 14-9, ECU answered with three goals to cut the advantage down to 14-12 with 3:34 to go.
The Commodores were able to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
Paige Gunning made 11 saves on the afternoon in goal for the Dores.
For the second game in a row, Vanderbilt had a big day on draws, finishing with 19 draw controls to ECU’s nine. Mikela McCauley finished with seven and Cassidy Orban recorded six.
Vanderbilt will return home to host Old Dominion on Thursday and Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
