March 7, 2015
Game Notes| Swezey Interview|Live Video Stream
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Five games in, Vanderbilt lacrosse coach Cathy Swezey is happy with how her team is meshing.
The Commodores jumped out to their best start in seven years with three straight wins and played well in two close losses to ranked opponents. Most recently, they rallied from a three-goal deficit in the second half on the road against No. 12 Penn and nearly forced a second overtime until the Quakers scored with four seconds left.
But the offense has been clicking, with numerous weapons attributing to a unit that ranks fourth in the country in scoring offense. The defense has held strong and ranks in the top 15 in the caused turnovers. Plus, Swezey’s only changes in the starting lineup have been goalkeeper as both Callahan Kent and Maddie Kratz have played at least three games this year and both have a game of 10-plus saves under their belt this season.
All that said, Swezey knows her team can improve. She has seen it in practice and she wants that to translate over to games.
The Commodores (3-2) will get another chance to show that practice makes perfect when they host No. 11 Stanford (3-0) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Vanderbilt will play its third straight home game in the Multipurpose Facility after snow and ice on Thursday left the grass field at the VU Lacrosse Complex in less than ideal playing condition.
“We have really talented athletes who work really hard and care a lot about doing well,” Swezey said. “I think we have a good flow. I do think there are some things we are doing in practice better than we are doing in games. So I think that is where we want to see the translation. Let’s take this from here and put it on the game field. Once we do, I think our opponents are going to see a whole other level.”
Stanford is off to a 3-0 start, which includes wins over No. 12 Notre Dame and at No. 10 Ohio State. The all-time series is tied 6-6, with Vanderbilt winning three of the last four. The Commodores handed the Cardinal their first defeat last year in early March when they rallied from a five-goal deficit on the road. Then-VU senior Abby Wheeler scored seven goals, including twice in the last 34 seconds of overtime to lift the Commodores.
Sunday’s game will also mark the return of Stanford volunteer assistant coach Alyssa Dunlap. The Villanova, Pa., native was a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Commodores. She finished her career last year, graduating in May after an All-Region and All-American Lacrosse Conference senior season. She ranks among the program’s best in career starts, ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls.
“I’m happy for her,” Swezey said. “As a coach, it is always a compliment to see one of your players go into coaching. You like to think maybe you did something right that they wanted to pursue that career. It will be fun to watch her on the sideline. It will be weird to hear her voice rooting for the other team. We’re going to wish her well either way.
‘DORES AMONG OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Just five games in, Vanderbilt is among the top of the Division I leaderboard in numerous categories.
The Commodores rank fourth in both scoring offense (16 goals a game) and draw controls (16.60 a game), ninth in ground balls (20.00), 11th in points (112), 14th in scoring margin (7.00) and 14th in caused turnovers (10.40).
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 seventh in Division I with 26 points, tied for 15th (along with teammate Jill Doherty) with nine assists and tied for eighth with 17 goals.
CHANDLER MOVING UP THE CHARTS
With 28 draw controls this season, junior attacker Kelly Chandler, from Salisbury, Md., has 100 for her career, which ranks her sixth on the program’s all-time list. She is 10th in Division I this season with 5.60 draws a game.
DOHERTY NAMED TO WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Sophomore attacker Jill Doherty was named to the BIG EAST Conference’s weekly honor roll on Tuesday.
The Reading, Mass., native, scored four goals, dished out an assist, collected four ground balls and caused three turnovers in a 12-11 overtime loss to No. 12 Penn on Sunday.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Sunday’s game against No. 11 Stanford will be the team’s third 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.