NASHVILLE, TENN.. –  It was a back and forth battle at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex on Wednesday afternoon. 

However, it was the home team Vanderbilt (4-3) that earned an 18-16 victory over visiting Colgate (1-7) when the final horn sounded. 

Kyra Lucey led the charge for the Raiders with a career-high five goals. She also added one assist. Eliza Soutter contributed three goals and an assist. Devon Maillet and Lucy Licata both added a pair of goals, while Maillet assisted on three goals. 

Cara O'Reilly collected 11 draw controls that led to Colgate's 22-15 advantage over Vanderbilt. O'Reilly also added a goal and an assist. Sarah Harding also posted a goal and an assist. 

Colgate opened the game with a mission and scored five of the first six goals to take a 5-1 lead midway through the opening quarter. 

Vanderbilt charged right back and closed the quarter with six of the last seven goals and held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first 15 minutes of play. 

The Raiders then scored three of the four goals scored in the second quarter and led 10-9 at the break. 

Colgate then jumped back out to a three-goal lead, 12-9, early in the third quarter, but Vanderbilt scored five of the next six goals to take a 14-13 lead with a minute to play in the frame. Both teams traded goals in the final minute of the quarter and the Commodores led 15-14 when the quarter came to a close. 

The Raiders tied the score three minutes into the fourth quarter, but Vanderbilt scored three of the final four goals of the game to secure the victory. 

Vanderbilt outshot Colgate 33-27 with a 29-24 shots on goal advantage. 

FROM THE SOURCE

Head Coach Kathy Taylor

"We battled today from start to finish. I could not be more proud of the effort each player gave! It is never easy to come so close to a big win and have it elude us in the end but those who are following us know we grew up today. We are hoping to take this level of play into conference games starting with BU this weekend."
 

UP NEXT

Colgate wraps up the six-game road trip with a visit to Boston to open Patriot League play at BU on Saturday. Faceoff is set for Noon.