Feb. 17, 2014
On Saturday, Jill Doherty scored the first three goals of her Vanderbilt career.
Two days later, she raked in her first collegiate honor.
Doherty, a freshman midfielder, was named the American Lacrosse Conference’s Rookie of the Week on Monday. She notched a hat trick, passed out two assists and set career-highs with five points, three draw controls and two ground balls in a 20-8 win over Liberty on Saturday at the VU Lacrosse Complex.
She is the second Commodore to win a weekly honor in as many weeks. Last week, sophomore Mallory Schonk was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Doherty, a native of Reading, Mass., started the first two games. But she came off the bench against the Lady Flames and flourished.
After Liberty tied the game at 1-1, Doherty contributed on the next four goals. She assisted on consecutive goals by Alexa Kunowsky and then scored twice in less than two minutes to give the Commodores a 5-1 lead. She completed her hat trick with 21:35 left in the game when she scored unassisted for a 14-6 advantage.
Through three games, Doherty ranks second on the team in points (eight) and assists (five) and is tied for fifth with three goals.
Vanderbilt (2-1) returns to action at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a tough road tilt at defending national champ and No. 1 North Carolina.