March 1, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 12th-ranked Commodore women’s lacrosse team outlasted Duquesne on Saturday to claim its fourth straight win, 12-10, at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex.
The game was tight throughout, with the final two-goal difference matching the largest lead for either team. There were seven ties and five lead changes in the contest, but the Commodores scored five of the last six goals over the final 20 minutes of play to earn the victory.
Junior Cara Giordano scored three of her four goals in the second half, including the eventual game-winner — her third of the young season. Giordano had a game-high five points (four goals, one assist), three draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers.
Duquesne’s Ashley Wood scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes in. Wood would post the Dukes’ lone hat-trick. The first half went back and forth, as Duquesne took a 4-2 lead only to see Vanderbilt tie the contest as the first 30 minutes expired.
The Dukes took another two-goal lead in the second half, but tallies by Giordano, sophomore Sarah Downing and senior Ashley Paschall gave VU the lead back. The game’s final tie came at 10-10 with 11 minutes to play before Giordano scored another go-ahead goal and Downing followed with an insurance goal.
Downing and senior All-American Margie Curran both scored hat-tricks on the day, with sophomore Carter Foote scoring one goal. Six different Dukes found the scoresheet, including two goals apiece from Sarah Cates and Kathleen McNish. McNish also dished out three assists in the contest.
Defensively, senior All-American Sasha Cielak caused four turnovers for the Commodores in front of goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry’s four saves. Caitlin Carducci made 10 saves for Duquesne.
The Commodores remain at home this week, playing host to Virginia Tech on Tuesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. CT. Vanderbilt travels to Chapel Hill next Saturday, March 8, to face North Carolina.
