Prior to Saturday, the last game in which Vanderbilt lacrosse hit 22 goals occurred on April 16, 2000.
Juniors Sarah Downing and Carter Foote were in sixth grade.
Nine years later, Downing and Foote played an intricate role in the Commodore attack, as they matched that record setting performance against Denver with a 22-7 victory over visiting Binghamton. They combined for nine goals.
"Sarah and Carter are both potent attackers who use their height to their advantage," said sophomore defenseman Claire Leonard. "As juniors, they do a great job of leading the attack and they were both ǃÚon.'"
Sporadic thunderstorms throughout the afternoon were not conducive to an offensive explosion. Yet, despite poor conditions, Vanderbilt raced to a 13-4 advantage at intermission. Moreover, they controlled possession, with 26 first-half shots to Binghamton's 9.
Downing recorded a hat trick in the first 11 minutes and added another score at the six-minute mark in the opening period. Not to be outdone, Foote connected twice within a minute (first at 3:35 and again at 2:39) to complete her own first-half hat trick as well.
Sophomore Katherine Denkler supported the onslaught, with two goals of her own.
In the second half, the Commodores continued to pile on, notching nine goals on 13 shots, to the Bearcats' three goals on 9 shots.
As Downing and Foote cooled down in the second half, freshman Alex Priddy ensured the attack would not cease. The Maryland native came off the bench to score two more second half goals, finishing with three.
Saturday's contest marks the first game of the 2009 season in which three Commodores have recorded hat tricks. The trio provided half of Vanderbilt's goals.
Defensively, goalkeepers freshman Natalie Wills and senior Rachel Woolford helped keep Binghamton at a distance. Wills recorded three saves, in over 38 minutes of action, to earn the win. The freshman improved her record to 4-1.
With the victory over Binghamton, the Commodores have compiled a three game winning streak. They currently stand at 1-1 in American Lacrosse Conference play and 5-3 overall.
"The three game winning streak has been great for us and I think we are proving to everyone that we are dangerous all over the field," Leonard said. "We still have six games to go, including at home against Delaware, so we can't get carried away with our recent success; we have to stay focused and keep doing what we've been doing."
The Commodores have only one day of rest before a date with Delaware on March 30. The following Saturday, Johns Hopkins pays a visit to Nashville as Vanderbilt concludes its three-game homestand.
