Friday, February 10
Nashville, Tenn.
12:00 PM
Colorado
0-1
10
at
11
Vanderbilt
1-0
1
2
3
4
OT
F
Colorado
4
2
3
1
0
10
Vanderbilt
4
2
3
1
1
11
CU huddles after a Vanderbilt Goal
Buffs Fall In 10th Season Opener
February 10, 2023 | Lacrosse
Colorado lost 11-10 in overtime
NASHVILLE – In its 2023 season opener, the Colorado Lacrosse team lost to Vanderbilt 11-10 at the VU Lacrosse Complex Friday afternoon in an overtime thriller.
The last time the Buffs played Vanderbilt in Nashville was in the 2021-22 season. That game ended in the same result with the Commodores winning 11-10 in overtime.
Today, the two squads appeared to be evenly matched with the largest deficit being just two goals for either side. Prior to the sudden-death overtime, both teams scored the same number of goals in every single quarter; however the Commodores secured the win, scoring the game-winning goal with just 2.6 seconds remaining in the first overtime half.
"It was a disappointing start for us. In the end, we had our chances, and we couldn't capitalize," said Colorado head coach Ann Elliott Whidden. "We played timid at times, and I am not sure why, but that falls on me as much as anyone else. This team is capable of a lot more than that. Our goalies made 17 saves, we dominated the draws in the second half, but we couldn't execute as well as we needed to on either end."
Colorado (0-1) recorded 22 shots on goal on 29 total shots compared to Vanderbilt's (1-0) 30 total shots, 28 of which were on goal. Despite winning just five draw controls in the first half,
Colorado went on to win 10 draw controls and only lost one after halftime.
While tied 6-6 after the first two quarters, CU decided to make a change at goalkeeper, subbing Danielle Heintz in for Grace Donnelly. Heintz saw 13 shots on goal and made eight saves in her time in net while Donnelly faced 15 shots on goal and made nine saves.
The offense was led by fifth year attacker, Charlie Rudy and junior attacker, Morgan Pence. Rudy recorded four goals and one assist. She had a hat trick in last year's season-opener as well. Pence also had a great showing today, totaling three goals and two assists.
Sophomore midfielder, Sophie Halus put together a solid performance, leading the Buffs with three caused turnovers to add to her three ground balls. She also helped Colorado to convert 22 of 23 clears.
A big difference maker in the game seemed to be when CU turned the ball over in critical possessions. By the end of the game, the Buffs had committed 16 turnovers compared to Vanderbilt's 11.
"We have to be more prepared for the 'moment' on Sunday," said Whidden. "We have the players and the talent we need to win, but the mentality was not there for 60 minutes today, and we need our experienced players to bring that Sunday from the start."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Vanderbilt scored two goals within the first three minutes of the game, but Colorado quickly answered back with an open net goal from Rudy to make it 2-1. Rudy scored another goal on a free position attempt, tying things up at 2-2. In the final two minutes of the first quarter, both teams traded points to make it a 4-4 game heading into the second.
CU was the first to score in the second quarter when Rudy picked up her third goal with 10:02 remaining in the half. Shortly after, Vanderbilt evened things up at 5-5. The Buffs took the lead again when McGee scored a goal on an assist from Pence, her second assist of the game. The Commodores wasted no time tying the game once again, scoring 11 seconds after the Colorado goal.
At halftime, the Commodores totaled nine draw controls compared to the Buffs' five. All 12 of CU's shots were on goal and 15 of Vanderbilt's 16 shots were on goal as both teams fought their way to a 6-6 game in the half.
To open up the second half, Colorado subbed in Heintz for Donnelly at goalkeeper. Vanderbilt took an 8-6 advantage over CU in the first five minutes of the half. The Buffs answered with two goals of their own, made up of Pence's third goal of the game and Rachel Kennedy's first career goal. At 8-8, Rudy navigated through two defenders and spun her way to a doorstep goal to give Colorado a one-point lead. With 3:28 remaining in the quarter, Vanderbilt scored its ninth goal, making it a tie game yet again.
It took just over five minutes for a team to score in the fourth quarter when Vanderbilt scored with 9:58 to go, taking a 10-9 lead. Ashley Stokes put one in the back of the net, scoring the equalizer at 10 all with 4:10 left in regulation. With six seconds remaining, the Commodores were awarded a free position attempt after a foul, but Heintz made a big save to force overtime.
In overtime, Colorado won the draw control, but turned it over on its first possession. Vanderbilt cleared the ball successfully before a free position attempt set up a game-winning opportunity. Heintz made another great save to keep the Buffs alive. CU went down the field but committed a shot clock violation after a missed shot. The Commodores scored a sudden-death goal in the closing seconds of overtime to win 11-10.
UP NEXT:
Colorado Lacrosse will travel from Nashville to Louisville, Ky. to take on the Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, February 12th at 10 a.m. MT.
The last time the Buffs played Vanderbilt in Nashville was in the 2021-22 season. That game ended in the same result with the Commodores winning 11-10 in overtime.
Today, the two squads appeared to be evenly matched with the largest deficit being just two goals for either side. Prior to the sudden-death overtime, both teams scored the same number of goals in every single quarter; however the Commodores secured the win, scoring the game-winning goal with just 2.6 seconds remaining in the first overtime half.
"It was a disappointing start for us. In the end, we had our chances, and we couldn't capitalize," said Colorado head coach Ann Elliott Whidden. "We played timid at times, and I am not sure why, but that falls on me as much as anyone else. This team is capable of a lot more than that. Our goalies made 17 saves, we dominated the draws in the second half, but we couldn't execute as well as we needed to on either end."
Colorado (0-1) recorded 22 shots on goal on 29 total shots compared to Vanderbilt's (1-0) 30 total shots, 28 of which were on goal. Despite winning just five draw controls in the first half,
Colorado went on to win 10 draw controls and only lost one after halftime.
While tied 6-6 after the first two quarters, CU decided to make a change at goalkeeper, subbing Danielle Heintz in for Grace Donnelly. Heintz saw 13 shots on goal and made eight saves in her time in net while Donnelly faced 15 shots on goal and made nine saves.
The offense was led by fifth year attacker, Charlie Rudy and junior attacker, Morgan Pence. Rudy recorded four goals and one assist. She had a hat trick in last year's season-opener as well. Pence also had a great showing today, totaling three goals and two assists.
Sophomore midfielder, Sophie Halus put together a solid performance, leading the Buffs with three caused turnovers to add to her three ground balls. She also helped Colorado to convert 22 of 23 clears.
A big difference maker in the game seemed to be when CU turned the ball over in critical possessions. By the end of the game, the Buffs had committed 16 turnovers compared to Vanderbilt's 11.
"We have to be more prepared for the 'moment' on Sunday," said Whidden. "We have the players and the talent we need to win, but the mentality was not there for 60 minutes today, and we need our experienced players to bring that Sunday from the start."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Vanderbilt scored two goals within the first three minutes of the game, but Colorado quickly answered back with an open net goal from Rudy to make it 2-1. Rudy scored another goal on a free position attempt, tying things up at 2-2. In the final two minutes of the first quarter, both teams traded points to make it a 4-4 game heading into the second.
CU was the first to score in the second quarter when Rudy picked up her third goal with 10:02 remaining in the half. Shortly after, Vanderbilt evened things up at 5-5. The Buffs took the lead again when McGee scored a goal on an assist from Pence, her second assist of the game. The Commodores wasted no time tying the game once again, scoring 11 seconds after the Colorado goal.
At halftime, the Commodores totaled nine draw controls compared to the Buffs' five. All 12 of CU's shots were on goal and 15 of Vanderbilt's 16 shots were on goal as both teams fought their way to a 6-6 game in the half.
To open up the second half, Colorado subbed in Heintz for Donnelly at goalkeeper. Vanderbilt took an 8-6 advantage over CU in the first five minutes of the half. The Buffs answered with two goals of their own, made up of Pence's third goal of the game and Rachel Kennedy's first career goal. At 8-8, Rudy navigated through two defenders and spun her way to a doorstep goal to give Colorado a one-point lead. With 3:28 remaining in the quarter, Vanderbilt scored its ninth goal, making it a tie game yet again.
It took just over five minutes for a team to score in the fourth quarter when Vanderbilt scored with 9:58 to go, taking a 10-9 lead. Ashley Stokes put one in the back of the net, scoring the equalizer at 10 all with 4:10 left in regulation. With six seconds remaining, the Commodores were awarded a free position attempt after a foul, but Heintz made a big save to force overtime.
In overtime, Colorado won the draw control, but turned it over on its first possession. Vanderbilt cleared the ball successfully before a free position attempt set up a game-winning opportunity. Heintz made another great save to keep the Buffs alive. CU went down the field but committed a shot clock violation after a missed shot. The Commodores scored a sudden-death goal in the closing seconds of overtime to win 11-10.
UP NEXT:
Colorado Lacrosse will travel from Nashville to Louisville, Ky. to take on the Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, February 12th at 10 a.m. MT.
Team Stats
COLO
VANDY
Shots
29
30
Turnovers
16
11
Caused Turnovers
8
7
Draw Controls
15
10
Free-Position Shots
7
8
Ground Balls
21
24
Game Leaders
Players
G
4
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
G
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseA
/ Lacrosse
M
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