After giving up the first goal, the Commodores settled down with four-consecutive goals to take control at 4-1 just 10 minutes into the game. ECU scored two more goals before Huddles responded with back-to-back tallies – one on a free position and the other on a feed from Fornia to make it 6-3.
The Pirates chipped away and got within one at 6-5 with just under nine minutes to go before halftime.
Vanderbilt’s offense took over from there, scoring the next five goals in less than four minutes to extend the advantage to 11-5. Gross scored a pair of goals over the stretch with Maddie Souza adding a goal and an assist.
The Commodores held an 11-6 halftime lead.
The first three goals of the second half went to Vanderbilt with Sundin completing her hat trick and Griffin Gearhardt and McCauley getting into the scoring action.
Later in the half, the Vanderbilt lead ballooned to nine at 17-8 with 13:39 to go behind goals from Fornia and Kayla Rieu. After more back and forth, freshman Megan Graziano scored her first collegiate goal with 5:07 to go to make it 19-10.
Paige Gunning secured the win with six saves in goal, and Lexie de Roziere also made three saves off the bench.
Vanderbilt outshot East Carolina by a 41-30 margin and finished with four free position goals.
The Commodores and Pirates will play again at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET) on Sunday at Johnson Stadium.
Winning Streak Extended by Vanderbilt Athletics on Exposure
