April 12, 2014
The Vanderbilt lacrosse team will finally close the book against ranked foes on Sunday.
In concluding a formidable stretch, the Commodores hope they can start a new chapter to the 2014 season.
Vanderbilt plays No. 4 Florida at 11 a.m. on Sunday in Gainesville. It marks the third straight game against a top 20 opponent and is the 11th time this season the Commodores have squared off against a team currently ranked in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll.
After Sunday’s game, Vanderbilt (4-9, 1-3 American Lacrosse Conference) will receive a slight reprieve from the ranked competition before the ALC Tournament on May 1. The Commodores host Jacksonville (9-5) in their last home game of the season on Wednesday and then travel north to play new ALC foe Michigan (2-11, 0-5).
“We play the best teams well and we play them tight,” coach Cathy Swezey said. “Yes, there are a couple mixed in here and there where we don’t step up. If you really break down our games over the last two years and look at scores we are a very competitive team. A coach said to me today you are the best 4-8 team out there. That’s not necessarily the title we want. But we need to turn it around and put our schedule and wins closer to .500.”
Of its 10 games against ranked opponents, Vanderbilt has won two – over No. 9 Johns Hopkins and No. 13 Stanford – lost four by less than five goals and lost only two by more than 10 goals.
Vanderbilt has lost three straight and seven of eight and comes off a 15-9 loss to No. 5 Northwestern on Thursday. The Commodores showed some signs of improvement early in the game. They answered goals by the Wildcats to tie the game twice early in the first half. They cut the deficit to two before Northwestern pulled away after halftime.
“We need to put together a 60-minute game – just like any coach would say in any loss,” Swezey said. “The effort and intensity we put in (against Northwestern) versus the two games prior to that (against Harvard and Ohio State) there was a big difference. As a coach, you’re always telling your team, ‘Listen, 60 minute games, put in all the intensity you have.’ I guess it is not always to do that. We were pleased with the hard work and effort. But we still don’t want them to ever accept a loss.”
The Commodores are 2-3 against the Gators, with three straight losses. Florida has won at least a share of the last three ALC regular-season crowns. And the Gators have continued to roll this year. Since dropping the season opener to No. 1 North Carolina, they’ve won 13 of 14 and five straight.
Florida (13-2, 4-0) can lock up at least a share of its fourth straight conference title with a win on Sunday. The Gators are led by junior Shannon Gilroy, who has scored a mind-boggling 71 goals. She leads the country – the next highest is 23 goals behind – and ranks second in the conference with 64 draw controls.
“They have a big gun in Shannon Gilroy,” Swezey said. “We need to shut her down as best we can on her ability to get a shot off and also on the draw. So she is a real weapon for them.”
RISING FRESHMAN
Freshman Jill Doherty continued her stellar rookie campaign with two goals and an assist against Northwestern on Thursday.
Doherty, a midfielder from Reading, Mass., started the scoring for the ‘Dores with a nifty shot fake and finish to tie the game early. She added another goal later in the first half for her 12th goal of the season. She leads all freshmen on the team in goals, assists (12), points (24), draw controls (19) and ground balls (10).
“Gosh, it has been so fun to watch,” Swezey said. “She was putting a lot of pressure on herself early in the season. She is such a true talent. To watch her finally relax, get into her game and take some pressure off herself. She is at another level right now and has been for the last several games.”
KRATZ ATTACK
Goalkeeper Maddie Kratz has also begun to settle in a groove.
Over the last three games, the junior from Wilton, Conn., has made 27 saves. This includes matching a career high with 12 against Ohio State last Sunday and following up with nine against Northwestern. Her solid play comes after she was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Callahan Kent.
“She had a big day (against Northwestern),” Swezey said. “We were able to identify the shot we felt was a little weaker for her. She was making saves in the high and mid region and she had quick hands. I think she is feeling more confident and that’s huge.”
CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS
Senior captain Alyssa Dunlap is moving up the career charts in several categories.
The defender from Villanova, Pa., now ranks eighth all-time in program history in ground balls and ninth in draw controls. She has 113 ground balls and 59 draw controls in her four years. This season, she ranks second with 21 ground balls and 24 draw controls.
Sophomore Kelly Chandler from Salisbury, Md., leads the team with 48 draw controls. In less than two years, the midfielder has 70 draw controls – good for eighth-most in program history.