Irish plan to end three-game slide against Commodores
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women's lacrosse team looks to avenge its third consecutive loss as it faces the Vanderbilt Commodores at home in Moose Krause Stadium Sunday.
The Irish are coming off a 9-7 defeat last weekend to the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. The loss put Notre Dame at 3-3 on the season.
"The [loss] was disappointing because we played really well," midfielder Kelly McCardell said. "It was frustrating."
The Irish came out fast to build a 2-0 lead with McCardell scoring twice in the first seven minutes. Notre Dame held a 3-1 lead after freshman Danielle Shearer beat Blue Jays goalie Sara Love.
"I think to take control right from the start was cool," McCardell said. "It showed Hopkins that we were out there to win."
But the Blue Jays countered Notre Dame's strong offensive play with three straight goals of their own and took a 4-3 lead into halftime. But Notre Dame came back with two goals from co-captain Lael O'Shaughnessy, the second with 20 minutes to go. After two more tallies for Johns Hopkins brought the score to 7-5 in favor of the Blue Jays, O'Shaughnessy scored her third goal of the game.
"It was a close game that came down to a few shots," McCardell said. "We played a lot better than before. No one had a bad game."
As the game came down to the wire, the Irish again came within reach of tying the game when sophomore midfielder Natalie Loftus converted a free position shot past Love, bringing the score to 8-7 with three minutes to go. But the Blue Jays finished the job when Erin Wellner scored on a rebound from Irish goalie Tara Durkin with 20 seconds to go.
"Against Ohio State it came down to a couple of seconds," McCardell said. "Against Johns Hopkins we had more time. It was tough. We played hard the whole game and tried to pull through but we didn't."
Durkin made 17 saves for the Irish. Johns Hopkins outshot Notre Dame 32-26. The Irish continued to lead their opponents in draw control, taking 13 of 18 faceoffs.
Notre Dame also turned over the ball 27 times, 11 more than Johns Hopkins. Irish co-captain Kathryn Perrella and sophomore defenseman Rachel Turk had assists against Johns Hopkins.
"Out on the field we work really well as a team," McCardell said.
The Irish laxers face No. 18 Vanderbilt on Sunday at home in Moose Krause Stadium. After losing their first three games, Vanderbilt now stands at 4-4 on the season.
The Irish have lost three straight to the Commodores, including a 18-9 defeat last year.
All four of Vanderbilt's losses this season have come on the road.
Team leader and tri-captain Sue Napolitano scored six goals in the Commodores' victory over Notre Dame in 1998. She has 24 goals and six assists so far this season. Emily Lough, a junior and the returning starter in goal for the Commodores, has posted an 11.94 goals against average and a .461 save percentage, with six starts.
Shana Crabtree, Lough's backup, started two games for Vanderbilt, compiling a 7.5 GAA and a .500 save percentage. Crabtree started for Vanderbilt in the 1998 game against Notre Dame and played in goal against the Irish in 1999, splitting the duty for that game with Lough.
Cathy Swezey is in her third year as head coach for the Commodores. In 1999, the team finished seventh in the nation.
"We've been looking forward to this game because it is a home game and [Vanderbilt is] a ranked team," McCardell said. "This is a game we are really going to go after."
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 31, 2000
