April 18, 2012
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 19 Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team dropped its third one-goal decision of the 2012 season as No. 7 Notre Dame took a 12-11 victory Wednesday at Arlotta Stadium.
After digging themselves into a 5-0 hole, the Commodores stormed back to tie the game early in the second half. But the Irish responded with two goals and would hold a narrow lead for the game’s final 23 minutes. Vanderbilt, however, had a chance to tie the game late.
With Notre Dame up two with less than two minutes to play, Vanderbilt senior Alex Priddy caused a UND turnover, picked up the ground ball and scored an unassisted goal at the 1:43 mark. Priddy would claim the ensuing draw control, but the Commodores were unable to convert over the last 90 seconds.
The Commodores outshot the Irish by a tally of 35-23, but the combination of 11 shots off target and 13 saves by Notre Dame’s Elli Hilling kept Notre Dame from trailing in the contest. VU senior Natalie Wills made six saves and a team-high three caused turnovers.
Vanderbilt was led in scoring by senior All-American Ally Carey and junior Casey Bakker, who each tallied three goals. Priddy added an assist to her two goals. Notre Dame’s Jaimie Morrison posted a game-high four goals.
The Irish built a 6-1 lead in the game’s first 16 minutes. The Commodores got on the board in the 15th minute when senior Hannah Clark’s goal was assisted by fellow Priddy. After the sixth Notre Dame goal, Carey’s goal was followed by another from Bakker. With their early goals, Clark and Bakker became the eighth and ninth VU players to score at least 10 goals this season.
Vanderbilt’s comeback continued into the second half thanks in part to the squad’s ability to win draw controls. After an even first half in the center circle, the Dores had a 9-6 advantage on draws in the second 30 minutes.
Vanderbilt held the Irish scoreless for more than a 20-minute span, and goals by Priddy, junior Carly Linthicum and Bakker in the first five minutes of the period knotted the game at 6-6. Senior Catherine Carr won the ensuing draw for Vanderbilt, but senior Kacie Connors shot rang off the crossbar and Notre Dame was off in transition. Maggie Tamasitis gave the Irish back the lead at the 23:50 mark, and they would not relinquish it.
The Commodores were within one goal on four occasions after that–at 8-7, 9-8, 11-10 and 12-11–but would not even the game again.
The loss marked VU’s first regular season defeat to Notre Dame since 2006. The Commodores lead in the series shrinks to 11-6.
The Commodores return home to close out their 2012 regular season against Jacksonville on Sunday, April 22. Vanderbilt’s graduating class will be honored during a pregame ceremony scheduled to begin at approximately 12:40 p.m. CT.
After final exams, Vanderbilt will travel to the 2012 ALC Tournament in Gainesville, Fla., which begins on Thursday, May 3.
