March 12, 2015
Game Notes | Swezey Interview | Peterson Interview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt lacrosse coach Cathy Swezey doesn’t have to strain herself in trying to learn about her next opponent.
When it comes to Penn State, the Commodores are very familiar.
Both were charter members of the American Lacrosse Conference, which dissolved last May after 13 seasons. The Big Ten added lacrosse as a sport so Penn State naturally joined and Vanderbilt left for the BIG EAST. Before the Commodores even play their first game in their new conference, they’ll visit a foe from their former league home when they hit the road to play No. 9 Penn State at 11 a.m. (CST) on Sunday in University Park, Pa.
This will be the 19th meeting between the teams. In the 20 seasons of the program’s history Vanderbilt has played only Ohio State, Duke and North Carolina more.
“I know a lot about them,” Swezey said. “They’ve been playing some of the same kids for four years. They have an exceptional senior class. And they know us well. We’ve had a lot of the same kids on the field, too. I think both teams will have a good read on each other unless game plans are really significantly different. But it should be an exciting matchup.”
Similar to Vanderbilt, Penn State (4-2) also got off to a quick start and won its first three games. The Nittany Lions have dropped two of three, though, losing a pair of one-goal contests to ranked foes Virginia and James Madison. Before Wednesday’s 13-12 loss to No. 15 JMU, PSU was ranked 10 th in the country in scoring defense (6.60 goals a game).
Vanderbilt has lost five straight to Penn State. The Commodores’ last defeated the Nittany Lions in 2010 and haven’t won in University Park since 2009.
The Commodores are trying to snap a three-game losing streak and bounce back from a tough 22-11 loss to No. 11 Stanford. Swezey said the first week of practice was entirely dedicated to focusing on Vanderbilt lacrosse before honing in on the opposition.
“The focus this week really needed to be about Vanderbilt lacrosse,” Swezey said. “We needed a bit of a gut check after our game against Stanford. That has been our focus. We know we have to prepare for Penn State. They are clearly one of the best teams in the country. But, if Vanderbilt is not playing at their level it doesn’t matter who we play.”
‘DORES AMONG OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Vanderbilt is among the top of the Division I leaderboard in numerous categories.
The Commodores are tied for eighth in draw controls (15.00 a game), 11th in scoring offense (15.17 goals a game), 11th in caused turnovers (10.33), 12th in points (130) and 15th in ground balls (19.33).
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 is tied for 17th in Division I with 27 points, and leads the team with 17 goals. She ranks 20th with 10 assists, one behind teammate Jill Doherty, whose 11 assists are tied for 15th most in the country.
CHANDLER DONE FOR SEASON
Junior attacker and lead draw specialist Kelly Chandler suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice on March 5. The Salisbury, Md., native, ranks sixth on the program’s all-time list with 100 draw controls. The preseason All-BIG EAST selectionled the team this season with 28 before her injury and also scored 13 goals in the first five games.
KEYSTONE STATE TRIO RETURNS HOME
Three Commodore defenders will be heading back home for the second time this season. Senior co-captains Alex Duckenfield (Rutledge, Pa.) and Maggie Forker (Havertown, Pa.) along with freshman Marley Sternberg (Blue Bell, Pa.) call Pennsylvania home. Vanderbilt has already played in the Keystone State once this season when it visited No. 12 Penn two weeks ago. The Commodores will be back to the Philadelphia area for the regular-season finale against Villanova on April 19.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Sunday’s game against No. 9 Penn State will be the team’s fourth 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.