The win improves Vanderbilt’s record to 9-2, tying for the best record through 11 games in Vanderbilt history. The seven-game winning streak is the second-longest in program history. The record is 10-straight wins set by the 2010 squad.
Vanderbilt remains perfect in AAC play, moving to 4-0 on the day.
In addition to Fornia’s offensive production, Griffin Gearhardt scored a career-high five goals to go with three from Maddie Souza, two from Elizabeth Scarrone and one from Nellie Blaze.
Both teams started slowly on the offensive end on Sunday with East Carolina holding a 1-0 lead 14 minutes into the game.
Blaze put the Commodores on the board with 16:06 left in the first half. The tally started a 3-0 run for Vandy that included goals from Gearhardt and Souza.
After an ECU strike to make it 3-2, the Dores reeled off the final four goals of the half for a 7-2 lead at the break. Fornia had five first-half assists, while Gearhardt finished the opening 30 minutes with three goals.
The Pirates had the momentum out of halftime with two goals in the opening three minutes to pull to within three at 7-4. Goals off the sticks of Scarrone and Fornia put the Commodores back on track at 9-4 with 23:33 left.
Three-straight ECU goals were followed by Vandy goals courtesy of Souza and Gearhardt to make it 11-7.
After the Vanderbilt lead grew to five at 14-9, ECU answered with three goals to cut the advantage down to 14-12 with 3:34 to go.
The Commodores were able to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
Paige Gunning made 11 saves on the afternoon in goal for the Dores.
For the second game in a row, Vanderbilt had a big day on draws, finishing with 19 draw controls to ECU’s nine. Mikela McCauley finished with seven and Cassidy Orban recorded six.
Vanderbilt will return home to host Old Dominion on Thursday and Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
