April 3, 2015
Game Notes | Swezey Interview | Clemens Interview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the flipping of the calendar and the beginning of a new month, the Vanderbilt lacrosse team hopes it fortunes on the field change as well.
The Commodores return home to host Temple at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the VU Lacrosse Complex. The game will be streamed on vucommodores.com and broadcast on vandyradio.com.
Vanderbilt (3-8, 0-2 BIG EAST) is stuck in an eight-game losing streak, which included seven losses in March and seven straight losses to ranked opponents. But with five games remaining, there is still time for the Commodores to get on a roll and extend their season. In their first season in the BIG EAST Conference, they hope to qualify for the league’s tournament from April 30-May 2 in Storrs, Conn. The top four teams make the field.
This will be the second meeting between the teams and the first since 1996 — the first year of Vanderbilt’s lacrosse program — when Temple won 20-7. The Owls (8-2, 0-1) are coming off a 17-3 loss to No. 8 Florida in their BIG EAST opener last Saturday. Prior to that, Temple had won four straight. Nicole Tiernan leads the Owls and ranks fourth in the BIG EAST with 26 goals.
SCORING TRIO
Juniors Mallory Schonk (22 goals) and Alexa Kunowsky (20) and sophomore Jill Doherty (19) are the highest scoring trio in the BIG EAST with a combined 61 goals. Schonk ranks third in the BIG EAST with 35 points and Doherty is sixth with 33. Doherty’s 14 assists are third-most in the league. All three rank in the top 10 in goals per game. Schonk and Kunwosky are tied for the team lead with seven multi-goal games.
PETERSON WINS SECOND WEEKLY HONOR
Freshman Kayla Peterson was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week for the second time on March 24. The midfielder leads all VU freshmen with 13 goals, five assists, 18 points, nine ground balls, nine draw controls and three hat tricks, including her most recent last Saturday against Georgetown.
THWARTING THE ATTACK
Goalkeepers Callahan Kent and Maddie Kratz have combined for 101 saves to lead the BIG EAST with 9.18 saves a game. Their save percentage of .416 ranks third in the league.
Kratz, who has been hindered by a back injury and stomach bug this season, has started the last two games. She made 20 saves last week, including a career-high 13 against Georgetown. In seven games this year she has made 50 saves and ranks fifth in the league with a .417 save percentage.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Vanderbilt has played the 16th toughest schedule in the country, according to laxpower.com. VU just ended 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. The Commodores have an RPI of 60.
‘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).
PUSH FOR THE POSTSEASON
Just five games remain as the Commodores try to extend their season by earning one of four spots in the BIG EAST Tournament, which will be held from April 30-May 2 in Storrs, Conn.