April 21, 2012
NASHVILLE – The 19th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team plays host to its regular finale on Sunday, April 22, when Jacksonville visits the VU Lacrosse Complex for a 1 p.m. CT matchup. Vanderbilt will recognize its graduating Class of 2012 with a ceremony scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m.
Nine players are scheduled to make their final appearance at home in Black and Gold Sunday for Vanderbilt (7-7, 1-4 American Lacrosse Conference). All nine of those seniors have earned starting roles at some point this season.
Senior All-American Ally Carey will leave Nashville as the most decorated player in Commodore history. The Bel Air, Md., native already has earned first-team All-America honors twice in her career. Carey is Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in ground balls (162) and draw controls (251) and ranks fourth on the school’s career points list (195).
Other seniors that will be honored on Sunday include: goalkeeper Natalie Wills; defenders Catherine Carr and Taylor Lange; midfielders Kacie Connors, Kelly Connors and Kendall Pittinger; and attackers Hannah Clark and Alex Priddy.
The Commodores and Dolphins have faced two common opponents this season. Both squads defeated Louisville at home but lost to Florida in Gainesville. This is only the second meeting between the two schools after Vanderbilt picked up a 12-9 victory in Jacksonville last year.
Vanderbilt is looking to improve its non-conference home record to 5-0 this season. The Commodores also can avoid the possibility of their first losing season since 2006 with a win Sunday. After a week off for final exams, the Commodores will travel back to Gainesville for the 2012 ALC Tournament, which begins March 3.
Jacksonville (11-3, 5-1 National Lacrosse Conference) has won four straight games since a March 30 loss at High Point. The Dolphins defeated Howard, 23-3, on Friday night in Jacksonville. Morgan Derner leads Jacksonville with 33 goals on the season, while goalkeeper Karli Tobin has started every game.