April 15, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With just two games remaining, the Vanderbilt lacrosse team finds itself in good position to extend its season.
The Commodores wrap up their home schedule at 3 p.m. on Wednesday against Marquette (the game will be broadcast online and can be heard on vandyradio.com). They conclude the regular season at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Villanova in Philadelphia. It’s quite simple — Vanderbilt wins its last two games and it locks up one of four spots for the BIG EAST Tournament, which is played from April 30-May 2 in Storrs, Conn. VU (6-8, 3-2) is currently in fourth place in the conference, with a half-game lead over Villanova (7-6, 2-2).
A win over Marquette (4-10, 0-4) puts the Commodores one step closer to postseason play. Vanderbilt, which has won three straight, has never played the Golden Eagles. Marquette has lost five straight and seven of eight. The game will feature three of the BIG EAST’s top four points leaders. Marquette’s Claire Costanza ranks fourth with 41 points and is second in the league with 24 assists. Vanderbilt’s Mallory Schonk (45 points) and Jill Doherty (44) rank second and third, respectively, in points.
The Commodores are riding a three-game winning streak and are coming off a thrilling double-overtime victory against Connecticut on Sunday. Vanderbilt pulled out a 10-9 win, battling back from a three-goal deficit in the second half. After both teams exchanged goals in the first overtime, sophomore Caroline Peters scored the sudden-death, game-winner in the second overtime on an assist from junior Amanda Lockwood.
It ended a superb day by Lockwood, who tied a career-high with four goals — three coming in the second half. Her final goal tied the game at 8-8 with 5:37 left after the Commodores trailed by three goals with 19 minutes remaining.
LOCKWOOD NAMED BIG EAST ATTACKER OF WEEK
Amanda Lockwood was named the BIG EAST Attacker of the Week on Tuesday after scoring seven goals, dishing out an assist and winning four draw controls last week.
The junior from Milton, Ga., made her second and third starts of the season and immediately made an impact. In a 13-8 victory over Cincinnati last Wednesday, she scored three goals and tied a career-high with four draw controls. Then, against Connecticut on Sunday, she tied a career-high with four goals and delivered the game-winning assist in a 10-9 double-overtime victory.
In addition, to goalkeeper Maddie Kratz was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. Kratz made 20 saves in two games, including 11 against UConn. She posted a huge stop on a Huskies shot as time expired to force double overtime.
HIGH SCORING QUARTET
Vanderbilt boasts a league-best four 20-goal scorers with Mallory Schonk (28 goals), Jill Doherty (24), Alexa Kunowsky (24) and Caroline Peters (21). Schonk, Doherty and Kunowsky rank sixth, ninth and 10th, respectively, in the conference in goals. Schonk (45 points) and Doherty (44) are second and third in the league in points.
Thanks in large part to this group, the Commodores have scored the second-most goals in the league this year with 166.
KRATZ ON A ROLL
Senior Maddie Kratz has put up a wall in goal the last six games, making 60 saves. That stretch includes three 11-plus save performances, with a career-high 13 saves against Johns Hopkins on March 25. She has allowed just over eight goals a game the last three games. Her 8.10 saves a game are the second-most in the BIG EAST and her save percentage of .460 ranks fourth.