April 20, 2018
The Game: Vanderbilt Lacrosse at UConn
The Time: Sunday, April 22 at 11 a.m. CT
The Place: George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.
The Broadcast: Live Video available at http://www.uconnhuskies.com/collegesportslive/ (subscription required)
Vanderbilt lacrosse finishes up a two-game road week on Sunday afternoon as the Dores head to Storrs, Conn. for a pivotal conference matchup with the UConn Huskies.
The Commodores (8-7, 3-4 BIG EAST) must beat the Huskies (7-8, 3-4 BIG EAST) to keep their postseason hopes alive. Vandy must win its final two games to have a chance at reaching the BIG EAST Tournament.
VU is coming off a 10-5 loss at Temple on Wednesday, in which goalkeepers Grace Bell and Madison Foglio combined to make 11 saves in the Commodore cage. Foglio played the second half, making her first appearance in just over a month.
Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson is seven points away from scoring 100 collegiate points in two seasons for the Commodores, while senior attacker Kayla Peterson is four goals away from matching the highest single-season goal total in Vanderbilt history. Peterson has 51 goals this season, approaching Sarah Downing’s program-record of 55 goals in 2009.
Opening draw from Storrs is at 11 a.m. CT Sunday, with the game streaming live on UConn’s website (subscription required). Follow @VanderbiltLax on Twitter for live updates.
Series History
This is the seventh meeting in lacrosse between Vanderbilt and Connecticut, with the Commodores leading the series 4-2. Vanderbilt is 1-1 against the Huskies all-time in true road games. Vanderbilt won last season’s meeting 16-8 on April 5, 2017 in Nashville. Julie Blaze led all current Commodores with a hat trick in the win. The Dores and Huskies are two of the six teams moving to the American Athletic Conference for the league’s inaugural season of women’s lacrosse in 2019.
Sledding with the Huskies
UConn and Vanderbilt enter Sunday’s matchup tied for sixth place in the BIG EAST at 3-4, sitting two games back of fourth place and postseason position. Both teams must win their final two games and receive help from other clubs in the conference to reach the BIG EAST tournament.
Reaching the Century Mark
Senior attacker Kayla Peterson scored her 100th collegiate goal on April 8 at Marquette, and is now 12th in Vanderbilt history with 104 goals. Peterson is Vanderbilt’s first 50-goal scorer in a single season since Sarah Downing in 2009, and is four goals away from tying Downing’s program-record 55 goals in 2009. Peterson scored her 100th collegiate point at Butler on March 25.
Vanderbilt’s all-time leading goal scorers (began Division 1 play in 1996):
- Sue Napolitano 167
- Margie Curran 163
- Sarah Downing 146
- Kristin Ehst 136
- Kate Hickman 133
- Ally Carey 132
- Katherine Denkler 128
- Carter Foote 118
- Jess Roguski 117
- April Tellam 110
- Mallory Schonk 110
- Kayla Peterson 104
- Cara Giordano 101
- Kelly Chandler 93
Shooters Shoot
Vanderbilt’s offense is 14th nationally with 33.27 shots per game and 17th in Division I with 24.93 shots on goal per game. Vanderbilt is also 25th nationally with 14.0 goals per game.
Individual Milestones
Vanderbilt senior attacker Kayla Peterson scored her 100th collegiate goal on April 8 against Marquette and her 100th career point in the win over Butler on March 25. The senior from Hagerstown, Md. has scored 104 goals along with 17 assists in her career for a total of 121 points, and is the 13th player in program history to reach the 100-goal plateau. Peterson is now eighth in program history with 94 draw controls, and is 11 draws away from tying former teammate Kelly Chandler for seventh place. Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson scored her 50th career goal vs. Oregon on March 28, and junior midfielder Melanie Becker scored her 50th career point at Butler on March 25.