NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Freshman Mikela McCauley scored the game winner in overtime to give Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse a dramatic 13-12 win over Lehigh in its home opener Saturday afternoon.
The Commodores overcame a four-goal run and 12-11 deficit with under 10 minutes left in the second half. Vanderbilt tied the game with 3:40 to go, made a defensive stop on the final play of regulation and won it with 0:31 seconds left in the opening overtime session.
“I just didn’t see any doubt,” Vanderbilt’s second-year head coach Beth Hewitt said. “All I saw was fight. They worked their tails off to fight back and continue the game plan. I thought they did a great job of staying strong and staying together until the end. Everybody had a hand in it and that’s what made this win so special.”
Four Commodores – Gabby Fornia, Paige Finneran, McCauley and Elizabeth Scarrone – each scored two goals. Fornia added two assists, which led all Commodores. Halle Regan scooped up four pivotal ground balls.
Vanderbilt (3-1) jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Lehigh (2-2) closed to within 5-4 at the 9:50 mark of the first half.
However, Vanderbilt scored the final three of the half for a 7-4 lead at the break and led 8-4 when Mathewson scored the opening goal of the second half.
Scarrone gave the Commodores an 11-8 lead with 13:55 left in regulation, but the Mountain Hawks took the lead with 8:20 to play before Gross tied it and McCauley won it.
Once again, Vanderbilt was strong in clearance attempts, converting fifteen of sixteen attempted.
Vanderbilt will continue its six-game homestand with a Tuesday matinee against Louisville. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
