March 21, 2015
Game Notes| Swezey Interview|Ramzy Interview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sunday’s game will be a monumental one for the Vanderbilt lacrosse program.
Though the Commodores will be playing a familiar foe in No. 6 Florida at noon on Sunday at the VU Lacrosse Complex on SEC Network +, the game will be both teams’ first BIG EAST Conference contest. Vanderbilt and Florida joined the BIG EAST this season after the American Lacrosse Conference disbanded last year after 13 years. VU, in its 20th season of lacrosse, only had one league home before this season and was a charter member of the ALC.
But as significant as Sunday’s game will be from a historic standpoint, the tilt represents a fresh start for the Commodores. Off to a 3-5 start and in a five-game losing streak (all to ranked opponents), Vanderbilt heads into the second half of the 2015 season with hope. Seven of the final eight games are league contests, thus the Commodores know they control their destiny, especially in regards to one of the four spots in the BIG EAST Tournament.
“It is really exciting and we are kind of starting a new season, too,” coach Cathy Swezey said. “We’ve had a tough run. We’ve been playing a lot of highly ranked games recently. And Florida is certainly among that group as well. At least now we’re starting conference play. It is a new season in the sense that we get to see what we do in conference. If we compete well, we go to the tournament.”
Florida holds a 4-2 edge in the all-time series, having won the last four meetings. UF won the ALC regular season and tournament crowns last year and was picked to win the BIG EAST in a preseason coaches poll. The Gators (6-4) have lost three straight — all to ranked opponents — for only their second three-game losing streak in program history. They are led by senior Shannon Gilroy, who is tied for fourth in the country with 32 goals.
The Commodores will try to snap a five-game losing streak. All five losses have been against ranked programs — Denver, Penn, Stanford, Penn State and Louisville. Vanderbilt led by two goals twice in their last game out against Louisville and trailed by just one at halftime but the Cardinals pulled away with eight goals in the second half for a 16-9 victory.
“I feel good about our team every game. The scores are not telling a complete story,” Swezey said. “And, yes, we need to learn to string 60 minutes together. But our kids are playing with the best teams in the country. Like I said, the scores aren’t reflecting that necessarily at the end. We’re giving away strings of goals and that is not a good thing. But overall our kids are hanging and I feel good about Sunday. We know Florida well. We’ve been competing against them in the ALC forever. It is just like an old opponent for us. I think our kids are ready. I think they’re motivated.”
SCORING TRIO
Juniors Mallory Schonk (20 goals) and Alexa Kunowsky (17) and sophomore Jill Doherty (15) have been a prolific scoring trio with a combined 52 goals. Schonk ranks second in the BIG EAST with 32 points (4.00 a game). Doherty’s 13 assists are tied for the most in the league and all three rank in the top 10 in goals per game.
Kayla Peterson EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Freshman Kayla Peterson nabbed the first honor of her career when she was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on March 17.
Peterson recorded her second straight hat trick, had a career-high two assists and collected a personal-best three ground balls against No. 9 Penn State. She added a goal against No. 10 Louisville and now has seven goals, six draw controls and three assists in her last three games.
THWARTING THE ATTACK
Goalkeepers Callahan Kent and Maddie Kratz have combined for 68 saves to lead the BIG EAST with 8.50 saves a game. Kent has made 47 saves in seven games and five starts, including two 10-plus save efforts. Kratz has 21 saves in three starts, including 10 saves against Penn in the snow and sleet.
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. She led the team this season with 28 before her injury and also scored 13 goals in the first five games.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Sunday’s game against No. 6 Florida will be the team’s third straight against a Top 10 team and sixth of seven straight versus ranked foes. VU is 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. 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).