March 12, 2013
NASHVILLE – The Vanderbilt lacrosse team plays host to No. 8 Notre Dame on Wednesday at the VU Lacrosse Complex. The game’s opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
Admission is free, and live video and will be available via vucommodores.com
Vanderbilt holds an 11-6 advantage in the series between the two teams, which has been played every year since 1999. The home team has won the past two meetings, with the Commodores claiming a 12-10 overtime victory in 2011 and the Irish taking a 12-11 decision last year. Head Coach Cathy Swezey acknowledges that the non-conference matchup has been quite a rivalry over the years.
“There were several years in the mid-2000’s that we were dominating that series and now they’ve gotten us a few times,” Swezey said. “We may be looking for a little retribution, but they’ve got a lot of experience and a lot of senior leadership. We’re hopeful that our hard work and talent is going to pull us through in a game like this.”
Vanderbilt is looking to snap a five-game losing streak. The Commodores lost a pair of tough matches on the road last week. Vanderbilt fell to No. 8 Duke after rallying from an eight-goal deficit to tie the game, and then was defeated by Louisville despite five goals from senior Carly Linthicum.
The Commodores are coming off their first weekend without a match since January, and Swezey is expects the team to be recharged for Wednesday’s game.
“It’s really tough to keep losing and have our girls not understand the benefit of their hard work,” Swezey said. “When I say that we are actually getting better every game, I mean it. It may be hard to see that sometimes on paper when you keep coming out with losses, but there has been no lack of try in these girls. We’re going to keep at it and believing we can win.”
Notre Dame is 5-0 this season, coming off a Saturday victory over Boston University. Jamie Morrison and Jenny Granger lead the Irish in scoring this year, having combined for 21 goals in five games this year.
Following Wednesday’s game, Vanderbilt will play a pair of road contests in the state of Pennsylvania. The Commodores travel to American Lacrosse Conference rival Penn State on Sunday, March 17, before playing at Penn on Thursday, March 21. VU’s next home game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, at 3 p.m. CT against Stanford.