April 12, 2017
DENVER, Colo. – The Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6, 3-3) traveled to the Mile High City in search of their first ranked win of the season. The No. 13-ranked Pioneers (11-2, 5-1) were too much to handle Wednesday afternoon and defeated the Commodores 17-4.
The games first five minutes were scoreless as both teams settled in defensively. MacKenzie Lange looked to strike first but the goal was disallowed due to a dangerous follow through. Denver took advantage of the call and scored the first goal of the game on the ensuing man-up opportunity.
Denver used that momentum to fuel a 4-0 run to begin the game and the Commodores would be forced to call timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Dores responded with their first goal of the game. Caroline Peters took a free position opportunity at the top of the crease, made a move and scored at the 19:27 mark in the first half.
Denver would answer with two goals of its own just 22 seconds apart and built the lead to 6-1. Julie Blaze would get an opportunity a few minutes later and bury it in the back of the cage to make the game 6-2 with 14:25 left in the half.
The Pioneers would keep the Dores off the board the rest of the half and scored three goals of their own to take a 9-2 advantage into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Commodores dug in defensively and would keep the Pioneers scoreless for the first ten minutes of the half. During that span, Blaze scored her second goal of the game off the assist from Jill Doherty at the 23:57 mark.
Unfortunately that would be all the Dores could get before Denver broke through the defense and scored its first goal of the half at the 19:06 mark to make it a 10-3 game. The Pioneers would not look back from that point, ending the game on a 7-1 run en route to the 17-4 victory. The final Commodore goal of the game came from freshman Gwyn Devin, her second goal in as many games.
The Commodores will return home and look to get back on track this weekend, as the Dores will host Temple on Saturday for Senior Day. The six Commodore seniors will be honored prior to the game. The game is slated for a 1 pm CT start with the ceremonies beginning at 12:40 pm.
