Lacrosse Falls to Cornell

Lacrosse Falls to Cornell

3/21/2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt’s winning streak was halted at three, as 16th-ranked Cornell defeated the Commodores, 14-8, Tuesday in women’s lacrosse action at the VU Lacrosse Complex.

Senior Kate Hickman led the Commodores with two goals and an assist. Sophomore Leslie Koch and freshmen Cara Giordano and Heather Koutrakos each contributed their first assist of the 2006 season. Giordano and junior Kendall Thrift joined Hickman as the only Commodores to tally multiple points.

Cornell’s Katherine Simmons led all scorers with five goals on the day. Six other Big Red players also contributed multiple points to the effort.

Junior Molly Frew picked up a team-high four ground balls and caused a turnover. Giordano, sophomore Margie Curran and goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry each had three ground balls.

Cornell opened up the game with a pair of goals by Courtney Farrell before the Commodores got on the board in the 10th minute when Koch found sophomore Nicole Pugno to bring the score to 2-1. The Big Red would score the next four goals to open up a 6-1 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

The teams traded goals over the next few minutes, as goals from sophomore Ashley Paschall, Curran and Thrift put the score at 8-4 with only 32 seconds remaining in the period. But Cornell’s Margaux Viola would find Amanda Linnertz for a goal with just three seconds left on the clock, making the halftime score 9-4.

In the second half, Vanderbilt would get no closer than four goals (10-6), as the Commodores were held scoreless from the 24:07 mark until the final minute of play. Goals from Hickman and Giordano in the final 30 seconds made the final tally 14-8.

Next up for the Commodores is a trip to Durham, N.C., this weekend to face Duke on Sunday, March 26, at Noon CT. Following three road games, Vanderbilt will play host to its final homestand of the season when Ohio and Ohio State visit the Music City over Easter weekend.