Coming off a 14-11 win in their home opener against Mercer, the Vanderbilt Commodores (1-2) took on the Stanford Cardinal (3-0) in game two of their five-game home stand. Vanderbilt was outshot 29-9 and struggled to keep up with one of the nation’s best lacrosse teams.
First Quarter
Stanford won the opening draw and went to work immediately to place pressure on the Commodores. They cycled the ball around and got an early opportunity, but Emme Martin started strong in goal and repelled the first shot. After a quick Vanderbilt possession that ended in a turnover, Stanford struck back with haste and Jordan Case snuck a shot past Martin for the first goal of the contest.
Then, after Stanford won the next draw, Alex Gladding fouled a Stanford player coming around the crease, giving the Cardinal a free position shot. Stanford attacker Martha Oakey cranked it from the spot to give her team a 2-0 lead. After giving up another foul and a free-position shot, the Commodores were down 3-0.
With around four minutes to go in the first, Vanderbilt finally began to find its footing defensively. The team forced three straight Stanford turnovers, giving the Commodores ample opportunity to create scoring chances. However, the Commodores struggled once they settled into their offensive sets. A Gabby Putman turnover allowed Stanford to rush down the field once more and, within twenty seconds, Aliya Polisky made it 4-0.
By the end of the first quarter, Vanderbilt was outshot 7-1, committed three fouls to Stanford’s zero and had eight turnovers.
Second Quarter
Stanford, continuing its aggression from the first quarter, won the opening draw and sprinted downfield. A well-placed shot from the Cardinal was rejected by Martin for her 5th save. As Vanderbilt came back down with the ball, Emma Davis attempted a cross-field pass that was picked off, letting Stanford rush down the field with numbers. With one swift pass down the middle, Mallory Hasselback outran the Commodores and slotted in a goal to make it 5-0.
Vanderbilt secured a draw and got itself back into its offensive set minutes later. After getting a couple of passes around, midfielder Brooke Baker was able to open up a window for a shot and secured the Commodores’ first goal of the game. Once again, on the ensuing possession, Stanford took control after a Vanderbilt green card and Polisky earned her third goal of the game.
The Commodores secured their second goal on a free position shot from Molly Krestinski. However, Vanderbilt still couldn’t get out of its own way. Garrison Morrill was given Vanderbilt’s second green card on the ensuing draw, and Stanford took advantage of the Commodores being down a player. Ava Arceri rushed around the back of the crease and darted through two Vanderbilt defenders, placing a brilliant goal past Martin to make it 7-2.
The teams remained deadlocked for the back half of the second quarter, exchanging turnovers and fouls. But, after Vanderbilt got a yellow and a green card back-to-back immediately after a Stanford yellow card, the Commodores were again down a player. Stanford took charge with swift passes and quick cuts with Annabel First eventually finding Polisky for a goal right in front of the crease. After a Vanderbilt turnover on the next possession, Stanford rushed up the field with the clock ticking down. With one step and a blistering shot, Oakey closed the first half by putting Stanford up 9-2.
Third Quarter
Vanderbilt looked like a team renewed coming out of the locker room. The Commodores forced turnovers on two straight Stanford possessions and answered with an early goal from Putman. Stanford responded to the challenge with a goal of their own as Hasselbeck dodged past her defender and placed a goal into the top right of the net.
The momentum Vanderbilt had garnered to start began to fizzle out. Stanford reasserted itself on defense, closing in on Vanderbilt players to force consistent turnovers. Stanford started to score goals with ease, securing three more within the next three minutes. With only 2:39 to go, Vanderbilt was down 13-3. Stanford maintained possession for most of the end of the third quarter, keeping the match’s pace.
Fourth Quarter
The teams traded goals to start the fourth, with Anna Tarraboletti scoring on a free position shot. Stanford continued to pile it on throughout the fourth, adding two more goals within three minutes off the efforts of Arceri and Polisky. Vanderbilt refused to give up and responded with back-to-back goals from Baker and Nancy Halleron, cutting the lead to 17-6. Stanford held strong and controlled the game for the rest of the fourth quarter, adding one final goal to top off the 18-6 victory.
Next up, Vanderbilt will take on Denver at home, with the first draw set for noon on Sunday, Feb. 22.
