Feb. 27, 2015
Game Notes| Swezey Interview|Kent Interview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Head coach Cathy Swezey and the Vanderbilt lacrosse coaching staff don’t have much film to look at on No. 12 Penn.
The Quakers have played just one game this season. It came a week ago and it was in a snowstorm up at Delaware.
But, just by looking at recent history, Swezey expects another tight, close contest when the teams meet at 12 p.m. (CST) on Sunday in Philadelphia. Their only two meetings have come in the last two seasons, with Penn winning 14-13 in overtime in 2013 and then holding on for an 11-10 victory last year.
“I absolutely think it is going to be a close game,” Swezey said. “I just think our teams know how to play each other. I think they know how to slow us down a bit and we tend to speed them up a bit. They have some really fast kids, so it is not a comment on their speed but just more of a tone of their game… I think they have a lot more information on us than we do on them. I think we’re well prepared and we’ll be excited to play them.”
Penn is 1-0 after defeating Delaware 9-7 last Saturday. Senior attacker Tory Bensen led the way with six goals, including four on free position attempts. The Quakers have been a steady power in the Ivy League, winning 13 games last year and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year before losing to eventual national champion Maryland.
The Commodores (3-1) will try to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season on Monday – a 13-9 setback to No. 20 Denver. Vanderbilt was led by Mallory Schonk and Meggie Ramzy, who scored three goals apiece. Callahan Kent also made a career-high 12 saves.
HEADING HOME
It will be a homecoming for three Pennsylvania natives who grew up around Philadelphia — senior Maggie Forker (Havertown, Pa.), senior Alex Duckenfield (Rutledge, Pa.) and freshman Marley Sternberg (Blue Bell, Pa.).
In addition, it won’t be a far trek home for a trio of Commodore freshmen. Kayla Pruitt, Jess Dadino and Frankie Angeleri all hail from Moorestown, N.J., which is only 30 minutes away across the Delaware River and is also Swezey’s hometown.
‘DORES AMONG OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Just four games in, Vanderbilt is among the top of the Division I leaderboard in numerous categories. The Commodores rank fourth in draw controls (18.25 a game), fifth in points (97), sixth in scoring offense (17.25 goals a game), ninth in scoring margin (9.00), 15th in ground balls (20.25 and 16th in caused turnovers (11.00). In addition, junior Mallory Schonk leads the country with 22 points and Kelly Chandler ranks fifth with 26 draw controls.
SCHONK ON FIRE
Junior Mallory Schonk was unanimously tabbed as a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection by the league’s coaches and she is living up to the billing. She has already been named the BIG EAST Attacker of the Week twice. She ranks first in Division with 22 points, tied for seventh (along with teammate Jill Doherty) with eight assists and tied for eighth with 14 goals.
CHANDLER MOVING UP THE CHARTS
With 26 draw controls this season, junior Kelly Chandler has 98 for her career, which ranks her sixth on the program’s all-time list. She needs just nine to pass Sasha Cielak (106) for fifth on the all-time list.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Sunday’s game against No. 12 Penn will be the team’s second straight against a ranked opponent and comes in a stretch of eight games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year and started the season ranked — Denver, Penn, Stanford, Penn State, Louisville, Florida, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown.
‘DORES HEAVY ON EXPERIENCE
The Commodores entered 2015 with 20 returning letterwinners and nine starters back. They’re heavy on experience with six seniors (four starters) and eight juniors (four starters). Among those notable to return are Kelly Chandler (27 goals), Mallory Schonk (25 goals, 27 assists), Jill Doherty (20 goals, 17 assists), Amanda Lockwood (18 goals), Alexa Kunowsky (16 goals), Emma Dagres (14 goals), Alex Duckenfield (31 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers) and Maddie Kratz (121 saves).
VU JOINS BIG EAST
Vanderbilt begins its first season in the BIG EAST Conference. The Commodores spent the last 13 years in the American Lacrosse Conference, which disbanded. VU joins former ALC member Florida along with Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Marquette, Temple and Villanova. The ‘Dores were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll.