April 9, 2010
Vanderbilt’s lacrosse players don’t just have their numbers on the backs of their jerseys anymore. It seems that the Commodores have a target there too.
Given the alternative, that’s just fine with Vanderbilt, riding a top-10 ranking thanks to a seven-game winning streak over the past month. The Commodores will look to make it eight in a row with a Senior Day victory on Saturday against Ohio State.
After scuffling to a 1-3 start, Vanderbilt (8-3, 2-0 American Lacrosse Conference) is beating opponents by an average of more than 6 goals a game during its run. And recently, that’s included a string of opponents who have marked the Commodores on their schedules as a possible signature win.
“It’s a challenge that we’ve learned to step up to as we’ve grown as a team,” said Vanderbilt coach Cathy Swezey. “I think the thing that what we’ve talked about before as a team is that every time we step on the field we’re facing a new kind of challenge. And the thing that’s been wonderful about the last month is our girls have stepped up to each one of those challenges.”
Rival Johns Hopkins was their latest victim, as the Commodores gave up the first goal but proceeded to tally the next seven and cruise to a 20-12 victory.
“Now that we are a higher ranked team, we’re going to be a team that people are shooting to beat in hoping to turn their seasons around,” Swezey said. “So, it’s nice to see us perform now that we’re under a different kind of pressure.”
Senior midfielder Sarah Downing led the way against the Blue Jays with five goals and four assists, and she was rewarded with the ALC Offensive Player of the Week award.
“This year, we’ve really been thriving under pressure,” Downing said. “Every game, we’ve played better than the last.”
That rough beginning seems like a long time ago, which included consecutive decisive losses to top-5 foes North Carolina and Duke to open the season.
“I think there was an element of fear,” Downing said. “I think we came out scared because they were such huge games for us. Since then, we’ve really tried to focus on that teams should be scared of us.”
Vanderbilt players and coaches agree the turnaround came on March 13 in a signature win of their own, a 10-5 upset of then-No. 5 Boston. The Commodores put it all together, with a strong defensive effort and a balanced offensive display led by two goals apiece by Downing, sophomore midfielder Ally Carey, junior attacker Katherine Denkler and senior attacker Allie Frank.
There has been no turning back.
“We came out and we were so ready to play together, and the chemistry was there,” Carey said. “I think that lit a fire under us.”
That game also personified one of the team’s greatest strengths: balance on the offensive end. Five different players have led or shared the lead in scoring during Vanderbilt’s winning streak.
While many opponents have two main attackers to key in on defensively, the Commodores’ myriad scorers such as Downing (27 goals), Carey (22), Denkler (24), senior midfielder Carter Foote (24) and others present a whole set of problems.
“It’s great to me that anybody can show up any day,” Carey said.
That doesn’t mean anyone’s content with a hot streak during the regular season though. Three NCAA Tournament first-round losses in the past three seasons loom large.
But that’s perfect for a team that has enjoyed big-game situations.
“If we should be lucky enough to be included in the NCAA pool this year, we know that we need to take another step,” Swezey said. “We aren’t happy with being stagnant anymore.”
Photo courtesy of Doug Cahill