Nashville, Tenn. -- The 19th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the #11 Penn State Nittany Lions by a score of 7-6 in American Lacrosse Conference action Saturday. Down 4-2 near the end of the first half, the Commodores scored four unanswered goals to earn the come-from-behind victory.

In the first half, the Nittany Lions came out strong, scoring two goals before the Commodores got on the board. Vanderbilt would tie the game with goals by juniors Tara Schmucker and Jeannie Crawley, both assisted by senior Liz Drennan, but Penn State scored another pair of goals to take a 4-2 lead. Right before the break, sophomore Jess Roguski scored a goal to make the halftime score 4-3.

Vanderbilt turned up the pressure in the second half. Sophomore Mary McCeney tied the game off an assist from sophomore Kelly Devlin. Crawley then scored two consecutive goals, earning her second hat-trick in as many games. Penn State would get within one goal twice, but Liz DrennanÕs goal off a Megan Lewis assist in the 60th minute was enough to give the Commodores the 7-6 win.

The win gives the Commodores their second straight conference victory over a higher ranked opponent. Penn State was picked to finish first in the ALC, while Vanderbilt was predicted to be third. Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Bastinelli again came up big for the Commodores, making 12 saves.

ÒWe beat a very good Penn State team today,Ó said Head Coach Cathy Swezey. ÒIn the second half, we came out with a lot of heart and determination. Those qualities, without a doubt, will define the Vanderbilt lacrosse team in 2002.Ó

Scoring Summary
8:06 PSU Jeschke
16:05 PSU Wood
18:28 VU Schmucker (Drennan)
19:35 VU Crawley (Drennan)
21:31 PSU Jeschke
26:54 PSU Donahue (FPS)
28:10 VU Roguski
41:35 VU McCeney (Devlin)
43:25 VU Crawley
48:11 VU Crawley (FPS)
48:35 PSU Burke
59:15 VU Drennan (Lewis)
59:46 PSU Burke (Jeschke)

Score by period
Vanderbilt 3 4 7
Penn State 4 2 6

Saves
Bastanelli, VU 12
Tortorelli, PSU 10