Vanderbilt (3-5) at Xavier (2-6)
Saturday, March 14 • 11 a.m. • Xavier+
Corcoran Field • Cincinnati, Ohio
Series History
• Vanderbilt leads all time 2-0 in a series that started in Cincinnati in 2024. The Commodores are 1-0 in Music City and 1-0 in the Queen City
• The two teams last meet in the regular season of 2025 with Vanderbilt earning a 18-9 at home behind a four-goal performance from Nancy Halleron
The Opponent
• Xavier is 2-6 on the season, coming off a 4-5 loss to Old Dominion Tuesday afternoon in Norfolk. The Musketeers are coming off of back-to-back losses to William & Mary and Old Dominion each by a score of one
• The Musketeers lost to both Cincinnati (9-17) and Eastern Michigan (7-9), both programs that Vanderbilt beat 22-10 and 18-10 respectively
• The Musketeer defense also ranks fifth in the NCAA for a combined .519 save percentage, 14th in scoring defense with 8.00 goals allowed per game and 21st with 10.50 caused turnovers per game
• Head coach Brittney Morris picked up her first win as a Division I head coach on Feb. 20 in the 13-6 victory over Mercyhurst. She is in her first season at the helm of Xavier lacrosse after leading Division III St. Mary’s College of Maryland to four-straight United East conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances
The Scouting Report
• Megan Droney and Maya Graham are both tied for the team lead of 18 points. Droney has scored in the past four-straight games and also leads the team with 11 assists
• Samantha Balara has a team-high 12 goals and is currently on a four-game scoring streak. The redshirt junior has recorded two hat tricks this season
• Cameron Yard leads the team with 15 draw controls on the season and has contributed five goals and an assist.
• Jada Brandon leads the BIG EAST and is ninth in the nation with a .516 save percentage. The senior also ranks 14th among NCAA goalies with 66 total saves and 15th for her 8.26 goals against average
Putman Named Midfielder of the Week
• The American Conference released its weekly honors, highlighted by Vanderbilt freshman Gabby Putman who was named midfielder of the week on Monday afternoon
• In two games this week, Putman won 12 draw controls, including tying a career best with nine in the Commodores’ 11-8 win over Eastern Michigan. In the same contest, the Cicero, New York, native picked up three ground balls and caused a turnover after scoring her third career goal. At Ohio State, Putman dished an assist and had three draws
Weekly Honors Tracker
• Gabby Putman – American Conference Midfielder of the Week (3.9.26)
• Kiera Runske – American Conference Defensive Player of the Week (3.2.26)
• Bailey Lower – American Conference Honorable Mention (3.2.26)
• Emme Martin – American Conference Goalie of the Week (2.16.26)
• Gabby Putman – American Conference Freshman of the Week (2.16.26)
• Nancy Halleron – American Conference Honorable Mention (2.16.26)
