March 17, 2018
The Game: Vanderbilt Lacrosse vs. No. 6 Florida in the BIG EAST Conference opener
The Time: Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m.
The Place: VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, Nashville, Tenn.
The Broadcast: Live video on Facebook Live (Facebook.com/VanderbiltAthletics) and live audio from VandyRadio (VandyRadio.com & the VandyRadio app)
Vanderbilt lacrosse opens BIG EAST Conference play on Sunday afternoon against a top 10 opponent, as No. 6 Florida visits Nashville for the annual meeting between the SEC’s only Division I lacrosse programs.
The Commodores (5-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) and the Gators (5-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) carry identical records into conference play, and are tied for fourth in the nation with 16.29 goals per game. Vanderbilt’s players are abuzz over the opportunity at hand against the seven-time defending conference champions.
“I definitely think, in my time here, this team is the most able to overcome adversity in any situation,” senior defender Mary Claire Dachille said. “This team just fights through and tries to figure out how we’re going to win the game.”
Dachille is one of VU’s four team captains, and the team’s leaders believe that this group can take down a highly-ranked opponent.
“Everyone really believes in each other,” senior forward and captain Kayla Pruitt said. “The unity is so strong this year and I think that’s what sets us apart.”
The Dores finished their recent road trip to Philadelphia with a 1-1 record after an overtime win at La Salle and a close loss to St. Joseph’s.
“We didn’t have our best week up there, but I think our girls are feeling confident that we can turn it around,” Vanderbilt head coach Cathy Swezey said. “I think our team is growing. You want to have a team learn from defeat or adversity, I think we have the team to do that.”
Coach Swezey’s team had a full week of practice between games, preparing for a battle-tested Florida team that has already faced six ranked foes.
“Their speed is just off the charts,” Swezey said. “They’re so fast, they’re so athletic… The draw controls are going to be critical, and then just having some possessions and moving the ball downfield on offense.”
Vanderbilt has a chance to end a 21-game losing streak against ranked opponents, dating back to 2014. The current Commodores are not taking that challenge lightly.
“This game has the opportunity to put us on the map for good,” Dachille said. “This is our chance to put Vanderbilt on the map and that’s so exciting for us.”
Opening draw of the BIG EAST opener between Vanderbilt and No. 6 Florida is at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. The first 250 fans will receive a free Vanderbilt Lacrosse t-shirt.
The game will be broadcast live at Facebook.com/VanderbiltAthletics and on VandyRadio.com.
Series History
This is the 10th meeting in series history between Vanderbilt and Florida, with the Gators leading the series, 7-2. Florida has won the last seven meetings after the Commodores won the first two, both in the 2010 season, Florida’s inaugural season of Division I lacrosse. Vanderbilt has not beaten Florida since May 7, 2010, a 16-9 win in the American Lacrosse Conference Tournament semifinals in Columbus, Ohio. The Dores are 0-3 vs. Florida in Nashville. The teams have played once every regular season since 2010.
Wrestling the Gators
Florida is ranked sixth in this week’s Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. The Gators have won seven consecutive regular season conference championships, all in the same league as Vanderbilt (2011-14 American Lacrosse Conference, 2015-17 BIG EAST). Florida has also won all three BIG EAST Conference Tournaments since UF and VU joined the league in 2015. Six of Florida’s first seven games have been against ranked opponents, including three top 10 teams. Shayna Pirreca leads the Gators with 23 goals and 29 points, and goalkeeper Haley Hicklen has started all seven games.
It Just Means More (Than Any Other Lacrosse Game)
This game marks the annual regular season meeting between the only two SEC schools with Division I lacrosse programs. Vanderbilt’s program began Division I play in 1996, and Florida followed suit in 2010. The two teams have been conference rivals since the inception of Florida’s program, in the American Lacrosse Conference from 2010-2014 and in the BIG EAST Conference from 2015-2018. The two schools will move together next season and become affiliate members of the American Athletic Conference in the league’s first season of women’s lacrosse.
Looking in the Mirror
Vanderbilt and Florida enter the conference season with identical 5-2 records and an identical 16.29 goals per game, tied for fourth-best in the nation along with James Madison. Both teams have scored 114 goals through seven games this season.
Battling the Ballot
Vanderbilt has lost its last 21 games against ranked opponents, dating back to a 12-11 home win over No. 9 Johns Hopkins on March 29, 2014. Four of those 21 losses are against Florida.
Perfect Attendance
Vanderbilt has been represented on the BIG EAST Weekly Awards in all five editions of this season’s conference honors. Detailed recaps of each honoree’s performances can be found in the notes below.
Vanderbilt’s 2018 BIG EAST Weekly Award Winners:
- Week 5: Emily Mathewson, BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
- Week 4: Kayla Peterson, BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
- Week 3: Julie Blaze, BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
- Week 2: Gabrielle Fornia, BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
- Week 1: Julie Blaze, BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week
Philly, Philly!
Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for Week 5 on Tuesday after scoring eight goals in two games last week in her hometown of Philadelphia. The Garnet Valley High School product posted a pair of four-goal games against La Salle and St. Joseph’s, including the game-winning goal in overtime vs. the Explorers on March 8. In three collegiate games in Philadelphia, Mathewson has now scored 13 goals and 16 points, dating back to her five-goal, three-assist performance in a 14-12 win over Villanova on March 18, 2017, which earned her BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors.
Control of the Goal
Sophomore goalkeeper Madison Foglio has started four straight games in net for the Commodores, after redshirt sophomore Lily Argyle started the team’s first three contests. Foglio tied her career-high with 10 saves in the 11-10 win over La Salle on March 8, then set a new personal best three days later with 12 saves in the 12-10 loss at St. Joseph’s on March 11. In her last three starts, Foglio has a .525 save percentage and a 9.09 goals against average. Foglio made three starts as a freshman in 2017, behind then-senior goalkeeper Callahan Kent.
Leading the Nation
Vanderbilt’s offense is first nationally with 36.57 shots per game and second nationally with 28.14 shots on goal per game, trailing Maryland’s 28.50 shots on goals per game. The Dores are also tied for fourth nationally in scoring offense with 16.29 goals per game and fifth nationally with 12.14 caused turnovers per game and 23.71 ground balls per game.
Beasts of the BIG EAST
Vanderbilt leads the BIG EAST Conference in five major team categories (NCAA rankings in parentheses):
- Scoring Offense: 16.29 Goals per Game (fourth nationally)
- Shots per Game: 36.57 (first nationally)
- Shots on Goal per Game: 28.14 (second nationally)
- Scoring Margin: +5.14 Goals per Game (10th nationally)
- Caused Turnovers per Game: 12.14 (sixth nationally)
Chilly Comeback
Despite leading for just five out of 65 minutes in the game, Vanderbilt topped La Salle 11-10 in overtime, on March 8 in Philadelphia. The Dores held the Explorers scoreless for the final 17 minutes and 38 seconds of play after Rachel Ceplo’s goal put La Salle ahead 10-8 with 13:11 left in regulation. VU scored the last three goals to earn the walk-off win in overtime.
Bucking the Trend
Vanderbilt’s 11-10 overtime win at La Salle on March 8 ended a six-game losing streak in one-goal games, dating back to the 2016 season. Vanderbilt’s last one-goal win was against Elon on February 28, 2016, and the 2017 Commodores were 0-3 in one-goal games. The win was also VU’s first overtime game since April 8, 2015, and the Dores’ first overtime win since March 29, 2014, a 12-11 win over Johns Hopkins.
Rewriting the Record Book
Senior attacker Kayla Peterson tied the Vanderbilt record for goals in a game on February 27, when she scored eight times in a 17-15 loss to Louisville, and was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Tuesday. Peterson matched Sue Napolitano’s record, set on March 25, 1996, against Virginia Tech in Vanderbilt’s first year of Division I lacrosse. Peterson was born 182 days later, on September 23, 1996. Peterson’s performance is the first eight-goal game in Cathy Swezey’s 21 years as Vanderbilt’s head coach, dating back to the 1998 season.
Blaze Earns Another BIG EAST Honor
Junior midfielder Julie Blaze was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for Week 3 of the 2018 season on February 27 after her five-point game against Furman on February 24. The award marks Blaze’s second career appearance on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll and her third conference honor of the season. Blaze was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week for Week 1 on February 13 and was Vanderbilt’s lone representative on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, as named by the league’s coaches in January. Vanderbilt has had a player named on all three editions of the BIG EAST Weekly Awards this season.
Back on the Ballot
Vanderbilt was one of eight teams receiving votes in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll that debuted on Monday, February 26 (Week 3). This was Vanderbilt’s first inclusion in the poll since April 2012, when the Commodores were ranked 19th in the final week of the regular season.
Fornia Earns BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Honor
Vanderbilt freshman attacker Gabrielle Fornia became the team’s second player in as many weeks to be honored by the BIG EAST on February 20. Fornia was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for Week 2 of the season after her two-goal, two-assist performance in the Dores’ 22-12 win over Fresno State on February 19. Fornia’s two goals were her first as a collegiate player.
Mathewson’s Career Day
Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson led the Commodore charge in Vandy’s 22-12 win at Fresno State on February 19, scoring a career-high six goals in the win and surpassing her previous mark of five, set against Villanova on March 17, 2017. The sophomore led the way in a very on-target game for Vanderbilt’s shooters, as 37 of the team’s 39 shots were on goal.
Blaze Named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week
On February 13, junior midfielder Julie Blaze was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week for her Week 1 performance. Blaze scored six points (four goals, two assists) in Vanderbilt’s 18-14 win over Kennesaw State on February 18. She filled up the stat sheet by claiming four draw controls and three ground balls in the tight road win. This was Blaze’s first career Midfielder of the Week award, adding to her honors of 2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST, 2017 first-team All-BIG EAST and one BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll in Week 1 of the 2017 season.
Preseason Pick
The Big East coaches picked Vanderbilt to finish sixth in the conference’s preseason poll, tied with Marquette for the sixth spot in the 10-team league. Midfielder Julie Blaze was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
1. Florida (9 first place votes)
2. Denver (1)
3. Georgetown
4. Temple
5. Connecticut
t-6. Vanderbilt
t-6. Marquette
8. Villanova
9. Cincinnati
10. Butler
Vanderbilt Lacrosse Joining American Athletic Conference in 2019
The Vanderbilt lacrosse program announced in October that it will join the American Athletic Conference as an affiliate member for the league’s inaugural season of women’s lacrosse in 2019. Current BIG EAST members Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida and Temple will make the move with Vanderbilt, joining East Carolinaâ€â€currently a D-1 independentâ€â€to comprise the six-team league.
Vanderbilt Lacrosse historic conference affiliation:
2019-: American Athletic Conference
2015-2018 (4 seasons): Big East Conference
2002-2014 (13 seasons): American Lacrosse Conference (founding member)
1996-2001 (6 seasons): No conference affiliation
Coach Cathy Swezey
Head coach Cathy Swezey is in her 21st season leading the Commodores. Swezey was hired as Vanderbilt’s second-ever head women’s lacrosse coach before the 1998 season. Her overall record as Vanderbilt’s head coach is 160-173, including six NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four berth in 2004. Swezey was named the InsideLacrosse.com National Coach of the Year in 2002.
Set the Field A-Blaze
Junior Julie Blaze led Vanderbilt with 33 goals as a sophomore in 2017, becoming the first sophomore to lead the Commodores in goals since April Tellam, who scored 42 goals in 1999. Blaze also finished the year second on the team in points (38), fourth in caused turnovers (12) and draw controls (22) and fifth in ground balls (18), earning first-team All-BIG EAST honors.
Back in Black (And Gold)
The 2018 Commodores return 65% of the team’s goal scoring from last season, with just 62 out of 177 goals graduating from the program.
2017 Vanderbilt Goal Leaders (BOLD = Returning)
1. Julie Blaze, 33 goals
2. Jill Doherty, 31 goals
3. Kayla Peterson, 30 goals
4. Emily Mathewson, 17 goals
T-5. Caroline Peters, 16 goals
T-5. Melanie Becker, 16 goals
6. MacKenzie Lange, 13 goals
New Faces In Goal
Vanderbilt enters the 2018 season with a tandem of sophomore goalies. Redshirt sophomore Lily Argyle and true sophomore Madison Foglio with take over for graduated senior Callahan Kent. Both players saw their first collegiate action in 2017, with Argyle making three starts and seven appearances (1-1-0 record, 13.13 GAA, .395 save percentage) and Foglio making three starts and six appearances (1-2-0 record, 11.19 GAA, and .333 save percentage). The duo will combine to succeed three-year starter Callahan Kent, who posted a career record of 12-19-0 in 34 games during her Commodore career.
Single Digits
In 2017, the Dores were 5-0 when holding their opponent under 10 goals in a game and were just 1-9 when allowing 10 or more goals. Vanderbilt’s lone win when allowing double-digit goals was a 14-12 win at Villanova on March 18, 2017. Vanderbilt is 2-0 in 2018 when holding their opponent under 10, and 3-2 when allowing double digit goals.
The 90-Second Effect
In the first season of play using the NCAA-mandated 90-second possession clock, Vanderbilt attempted 30.5 shots per game while holding opponents to just 27.4 shots per game. That total gave the Commodores their highest shots per game total since the 2010 season and marked the first time Vanderbilt outshot its opponents since 2013.