Feb. 19, 2018
FRESNO, Calif. – Vanderbilt lacrosse improved to 2-0 on the season with a 22-12 road win over Fresno State on Monday afternoon. Sophomore attacker Emily Mathewson scored a career-high six goals for the Commodores (2-0, 0-0 BIG EAST), who defeated the Bulldogs (2-2, 0-0 MPSF) on the strength of seven straight goals to close the first half.
The Commodores trailed 5-3 before dominating the last 15 minutes of the half. Vanderbilt scored the last seven goals of the half, holding the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 16:22 and taking a 10-5 lead into the break.
“I thought we had a relatively slow start to the game, but certain players really stepped up at the right time,” Vanderbilt head coach Cathy Swezey said after the win. “Emily Mathewson had an unbelievable first half offensively. She carried us through the whole game, but she really put the attack on her back when we were getting off to a slow start.”
Mathewson scored four of Vandy’s 10 first half goals, as the Commodores chased Bulldogs goalie Laurel Maunder with 8:15 remaining in the half. Coach Swezey sees that goalie change as an acknowledgement of her group’s effort.
“I think it definitely fires up an offense,” Swezey said. “I think the kids knew that they were getting their job done… We just kept going at it and I think, obviously, succeeded. So it was a good thing.”
Vanderbilt’s shutout streak lasted 18 minutes and 59 seconds before Fresno’s Kayla Galet ended the impressive run with an early second half goal. The Commodores allowed just one goal over a span of 26:06 on the game clock, going from down 5-3 to up 14-6 in that sequence.
“[Our defense’s] overall performance today was awesome,” Swezey said. “They played extremely well and we’re really pleased with them.”
Mathewson’s six goals surpass her previous career-high of five, set on March 17, 2017 in a 14-12 win over Villanova, making her Vanderbilt’s second five-goal scorer in as many games this season.
Kayla Peterson followed up her five-goal performance in the Dores’ win against Kennesaw State last Sunday by notching four goals and two assists against the Bulldogs.
Nine Vanderbilt players scored goals in the win, including six multi-goal scorers. Julie Blaze scored three goals, all in the second half, while Kayla Pruitt, Gabrielle Fornia and Sophie Furlong each scored twice.
“The more people you have scoring in a game, the harder you are to match up with,” Swezey said. “Right now, I think our starting line of attack is putting up points, [and] to be able to put in different people and have them also put up numbers is big for us.”
Vanderbilt’s 22 goals mark the program’s second 20-goal game in the past three years, matching the team’s top-goal output last season, a 22-4 win over Butler on March 25.
Four freshmen registered points for Vanderbilt. Fornia followed up her three-assist debut against Kennesaw with her first two collegiate goals and two more assists. Furlong scored twice, running her early goal total to three. Freshman midfielders Halle Regan and Melissa Hawkins each recorded their first collegiate points; Regan notched her first Commodore goal early in the first half, while Hawkins picked up her first assist later in the period.
“I thought the freshmen had a great game today,” Swezey said. “I think they made contributions all over the field. The thing about Halle Regan scoring is she’s actually subbing more as a defensive midfielder, and she scored a goal. Gabby Fornia missed some shots in her first game… and she comes out and scores two big goals in the second half. Melissa Hawkins is playing out of her mind all over the field, so we were really psyched with their game.”
Vanderbilt outshot Fresno State, 39-21, and 37 of the Dores’ 39 shots were on goal. The team is now averaging 40.5 shots per game through two contests.
“That’s huge,” Swezey said. “The number of shots we’ve taken in the first two games, I couldn’t be happier… It’s been a thorn in our side for several years, so to be shooting this much and shooting that well is really good.”
Vanderbilt’s next game is the Commodores’ home opener against Furman on Saturday. Opening draw is at 1 p.m. at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Admission is free for all Vanderbilt home lacrosse games.
