WLAX v Vanderbilt (9 MAR 16) - Highlights
WLAX v Vanderbilt (9 MAR 16) - Full Game

Box Score| Season Stats

DENVER - The University of Denver women's lacrosse team dropped a 12-7 decision to Vanderbilt Wednesday at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The Pioneers are 2-4 on the season and hold a 1-1 record in the MPSF.

Senior captain Christa Reese (Lutherville, Md.) and freshman Audrey Schreck (Charlottesville, Va.) led the Pioneers with two goals apiece, while freshman Kendra Lanuza (Littleton, Colo.) scored a goal and dished out two assists in the loss.

Senio r Rachael McKinnon (Brooklin, Ont.) put the Pioneers on the board first, finishing an assist from Lanuza 2:16 into the game. Reese scored her first of the game 1:09 later to increase Denver's lead to 2-0. Vanderbilt responded with a four goals by four different players, including two goals on free position shots, earning a 4-2 lead with 12:11 to play in the first half.

Denver scored the final three goals of the first half to gain a 5-4 lead at halftime. Freshman Elizabeth Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) scored her first career goal off an assist by Lanuza in a freshman-to-freshman connection with 4:58 remaining in the first half. Schreck continued the run of freshmen with her first goal of the game, and Lanuza scored her lone goal less than a minute later off an assist from Caitlin Derry (Seal Beach, Calif.).

Schreck increased Denver's lead to 6-4 5:06 into the second half with the only free position goal of the game for the Pioneers. Vanderbilt tallied two in a row to tie the game up 6-6 with 20:56 remaining in the game. Denver regained the lead on a goal by Reese, assisted by Derry with 14:07 remaining in the game, but the Commodores dominated the final minutes of the game to push past the Pioneers, 12-7.

Mallory Schonk led Vanderbilt with four goals and an assist in the game. The Commodore offense capitalized on its free position attempts, with goals on 4-of-6 attempts.

Both teams tightened up play in the second half. The Pioneers committed three fewer turnovers in the second half than the first half, and the Commodores only gave up the ball twice in the final 30 minutes. The teams were fairly evenly matched in the draw control circle with Denver winning 11-of-21 draws, including three draw controls by Reese.

Junior Maddy Stevenson (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) made eight stops in the game, while senior captain Sarah Kasun (Bel Air, Md.) caused two turnovers. Vanderbilt goalkeeper Callahan Kent made 11 saves, including seven in the first half.

The Pioneers will conclude their homestand Sunday at 1 p.m. MT as Denver hosts Fairfield in a game that will be broadcast on Altitude TV.

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