Baltimore, Md.-Sophomore midfielder Sarah Downing scored three goals and added two assists as 12th-ranked Vanderbilt (2-0) defeated UMBC (0-2), 16-7 in damp, chilly conditions at UMBC Stadium.

UMBC senior attacker Ali Levendusky (Baldwin, Md.) and junior midfielder Abbey Swift (Baltimore, Md.) each scored three goals for the Retrievers. Levendusky has six goals through two games to date.

UMBC took a 2-1 lead on a Swift score at the 8:38 mark, but, after a Commodore time-out, Downing opened a 5-0 run with back-to-back scores. Swift got one back for the hosts, cutting the deficit to 6-3 at the 15:26 mark, but four different Commodores scored in a 4-0 surge which gave VU a 10-3 advantage late in the first half.

Vanderbilt led, 11-4 at intermission as Emily Franke turned a late UMBC turnover into a score with 12 seconds remaining in the stanza. The two teams exchanged the first four goals of the second half as Levendusky's third goal of the game kept the Retrievers within range at 13-6 with 16:54 remaining. But just four minutes later, Vanderbilt scored twice in a span of 96 seconds to seal the victory.

Senior attacker Margie Curran added three goals and an assist for the visitors. Vanderbilt senior netminder Brooke Shinaberry made 11 saves in the cage, playing all 60 minutes. Junior Susie Sweeney (Madison, N.J.) relieved starter Kate Quick (Phoenix, Md.) in the Retriever goal and made 10 saves, allowing eight goals in the final 36:48 of the game.

Vanderbilt has won all three meetings with UMBC. The Retrievers host the Loyola Greyhounds on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

* * * *

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The 12th-ranked Vanderbilt women's lacrosse team used a balanced scoring attack to win at UMBC Saturday, 16-7.

Senior Margie Curran and sophomore Sarah Downing both posted hat-tricks for Vanderbilt, leading a group of eight Commodore goal scorers. Junior Cara Giordano, sophomores Anastasia Adam and Carter Foote, and freshman Emily Franke each contributed a pair of tallies. Senior Ashley Paschall and freshman Katherine Denkler also found the scoresheet for Vanderbilt.

Downing scored the first goal of the contest before a pair of Retriever goals gave UMBC a 2-1 lead. Vanderbilt would score the next five goals, including two from Downing, to take a 6-2 lead at the midpoint of the first half. UMBC would score only twice more in the half, as VU opened up an 11-4 halftime lead.

The second half slowed down slightly, with the teams combining for only eight goals. The teams traded goals before the Commodores added to their advantage in the closing minutes.

Senior goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry made 11 saves for the Commodores, stopping 61 percent of the shots she faced. Senior Sasha Cielak picked up a game-high five ground balls.

Vanderbilt now heads north to Bethlehem, Pa., for a Sunday showdown with Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks (2-0) have been off for six days since a 16-15 victory at St. Joseph's on Monday.

* * * *

Score by Period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Vanderbilt.......... 11  5 - 16
UMBC................  4  3 -  7
 
Attendance: 285
 
Vanderbilt SCORING:
GOALS: Downing,Sarah 3; Curran,Margie 3; Franke,Emily 2;
       Giordano,Cara 2; Adam,Anastasia 2; Foote,Carter 2;
       Paschall,Ashley 1; Denkler,Katherine 1.
ASSISTS: Downing,Sarah 2; Curran,Margie 1; Keenan,Laura 1;
         Koch,Leslie 1.
 
UMBC SCORING:
GOALS: Swift, Abbey 3; Levendusky, Ali 3; Keelan, Meghan 1.
ASSISTS: None.
 
Shots by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Vanderbilt.......... 22 15 - 37
UMBC................ 12 15 - 27
 
Ground balls by prd   1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Vanderbilt..........  8 15 - 23
UMBC................  9  8 - 17
 
Saves by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Vanderbilt..........  5  6 - 11
UMBC................  5  7 - 12
 
Turnovers by prd      1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Vanderbilt..........  9 10 - 19
UMBC................  9 11 - 20

2008-02-23