Vanderbilt (6-7, 2-2) survives in a nail-biter against Temple (2-10, 0-3), 12-11, thanks to tough defense and an impressive second-half showing. 

Molly Joyce shined in goal, recording five massive saves, most coming when the game was within a single score. 

“[Joyce] just made the saves when we needed it,” head coach Beth Hewitt said. “Sometimes, it’s not even about the quantity. It’s about the quality. When you get a goal on one end and then a stop on the other, it feels like a lot of momentum [is] going in your direction, and I thought [Joyce] did that for us.”

Brooke Baker and Nancy Halleron also shined, with each of them recording hat tricks in the contest. Halleron also added two assists to her name.

But the biggest hero was Kemper Robinson. Though quiet offensively through the first three quarters, she was the sole goal scorer for the Commodores in the fourth, putting in two goals, both of them to take the lead. Then, in one of the final defensive possessions of the match, Robinson forced a turnover that sealed the deal for the ‘Dores as they escaped with the one-goal win.

First quarter

Temple won the opening draw and less than 40 seconds into the game, Erin King found the back of the net off an assist from Sabrina Martin to make it 1-0 Owls.

Vanderbilt didn’t take long to respond. With over 11 minutes left in the quarter, Jaimie Biskup found a cutting Baker in traffic, who fired while falling away, going bar-down for Vanderbilt’s first goal of the game. Baker didn’t stop there, scoring a second goal — this time unassisted — in less than a minute after her first, giving the Commodores the lead.

Then, with about 9:40 left in the first quarter, Anna Taraboletti set up for a free position shot. But when the whistle blew, she opted to find Biskup at the top of the fan. Biskup breezed past a defender and found the back of the net for her first goal and second point of the game. Halleron also got in on the fun, scoring an unassisted goal to extend the lead to 4-1. 

On the defensive end, Vanderbilt forced a stop off a free position shot, thanks to a save by Joyce. But Temple’s scoreless drought didn’t last much longer, as on the next possession, 

Sabrina Martin’s shot hit Joyce but rolled past the goal line for the score. Martin would then win the draw and later in the possession, Lexi Culp would find the back of the net to bring the score within one. 

A few possessions later, Temple had a chance to tie the game on a free position shot, but Vanderbilt intercepted the pass and raced down the field, ending with a second Biskup goal of the quarter. Halleron would later score her second goal of the game, as well, giving Vanderbilt a 6-3 lead.

Emily Liberio got Temple back on the board with a goal to end the quarter, finding herself wide open off a feed from Amelia Wright thanks to a Vanderbilt defensive breakdown. The first 15 minutes ended with the ‘Dores up 6-4.

Second quarter

Temple was the first to strike, scoring after an empty trip by Vanderbilt and bringing the lead within one. But Molly Finlay wouldn’t let the score stay at one for long, scoring on the next possession to extend the lead back to two.

With about 10 minutes left in the quarter, Culp attempted to pass Alex Gladding, but the sophomore’s defense was smothering. Culp gained a step on Gladding, but as Gladding slid into position, the two collided and fell towards the goal, with Culp attempting a shot on the way down. The ball sizzled past Joyce and into the back of the cage but was ruled a no goal as Gladding drew a charge. Temple got that goal back a few minutes later, though, as leading-scorer Erin King cut the Vanderbilt lead back to one. Temple would score its second unanswered goal a minute later, this time from Amelia Wright, tying the game for the first time since the score was 1-1 in the first quarter. 

The score stayed deadlocked for the next few minutes until it was broken by Wright’s second straight goal, giving the Owls their first lead since the first goal of the game. The half would end with Temple leading 8-7, Vanderbilt scoring only one goal in the second quarter.

Third quarter

The second half started slow, with offenses stalled and silenced thanks to stellar defense and spectacular saves from the goalies on both sides. It would take seven minutes to see a ball find the back of the cage, as a Robinson steal led to a breakaway opportunity for the Black and Gold, where Halleron found Taraboletti for her first goal of the game and third of the season. The goal fired up the ‘Dores enough to see a second goal within the minute, with Baker recording a hat trick and taking a 9-8 lead. Halleron saw Baker’s hat trick and wanted one of her own, scoring an unassisted goal to earn her third of the game, growing the Commodore lead to two.

Temple finally got on the board in the second half with 3:03 left in the quarter, bringing the lead back to 1. The quarter ended with Vanderbilt outscoring the Owls 3-1 and taking a 10-9 lead.

Fourth quarter

Sarah Gowman started the final 15 minutes with a goal for Temple, knotting the game at 10 a-piece. Robinson, however, wouldn’t let the game stay tied long. Vanderbilt won the opening draw, and after slowing the pace down and moving the ball around the fan, Robinson cut through the defense to get right in front of the arc and scored. 11-10 in favor of Vanderbilt.

With over 6 minutes left in the contest, Joyce tried to keep the Commodores on top with a huge save but off the rebound, Gowman scored her second goal of the quarter to tie the game once again.

Robinson, once again, came up clutch for the Commodores. Her shifty footwork opened up a lane for her second goal of the quarter, giving her team a 12-11 lead.

With two minutes left, Temple’s offense was swarmed by Vanderbilt defenders. The pressure mounted, finally blowing up when Robinson poked the ball out to give Vanderbilt possession. The Commodores ran the clock out, giving Temple one last chance with 30 seconds left. Gowman had one more look, but her shot traveled far right as the clock ticked to zeros.

“The fourth quarter was honestly just an energy boost,” Robinson said. “All around, it was team energy. The sideline was awesome today, and it totally translated to the field.”

Vanderbilt will embark on a two-game road trip, starting with a duel against Eastern Carolina in Greenville, NC on Saturday, April 12, at 10:00 a.m. CDT.