NASHVILLE, TN – The Rider University women's lacrosse team competed early before falling at Vanderbilt, 20-13, Tuesday evening. The Broncs fall to 4-4 on the season, while the Commodores improve to 4-6.
 
Early in the contest both sides swapped goals, with Rider leading 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 on goals by Elena Bontatibus (Simsbury, CT/Simsbury), Toni Gismondi (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford[VCU]), and Katie Walsh (Marlton, NJ/Camden Catholic[FDU-Florham]). The Commodores would score two-straight to lead 4-3 after the opening quarter.
 
Early in the second, Selena Carrington (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North [Rutgers]), Gismondi, and Madison Rothwein (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway Regional) would all score as the Broncs came back to tie the score 6-6, but a 4-0 run from Vanderbilt would help the Commodores lead 10-7 at the half.
 
The high-powered offenses carried over into the second half with Gismondi scoring twice, and Bontatibus, Rothwein, and Carrington each adding tallies in the third, but Vanderbilt continued to score as well, maintaining a 14-12 lead before scoring three-straight to lead 17-12 entering the fourth.
 
Both defenses tightened in the fourth, but the Commodores outscored the Broncs 3-1 in the final frame to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Coming in with all the travel and playing a Power 5 school, we played really well early on and showed some of our capability. We need to do that for four quarters and we cna be a very successful team. I'm very proud of our draw unit and middies in this game, Elena and Madi Roth. A new season starts on Saturday with conference play." - Head Coach Evan Mager

- Vanderbilt wins the first-ever meeting between the programs.
- Jamie Kubach (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter[FDU-Florham]) made the start in net, and played 52 minutes, allowing 16 goals and making seven saves, taking the loss.
- Gismondi scored a team-high four goals for her first hat trick of the season and third as a Bronc.
- Walsh recorded her fifth hat trick of the season, and 12^th as a Bronc, with her three goals.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Vanderbilt outshot Rider 34-24, including a 27-22 edge in shots on goal.
- Both teams secured 14 ground balls. Erin Collins (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan[FDU-Florham]) led the Broncs with three with Kubach and Emma Barborak (Lakeville, MN/Gentry Academy[FDU-Florham]) each adding two.
- Both teams grabbed 18 draws. Walsh and Marissa Ross (Reisterstown, MD/Beth Tfiloh[FDU-Florham]) each had six to lead the Broncs with Anna Devlin (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City[TCNJ]) securing four.
- Gismondi had two assists with Walsh, Carrington, and Bontatibus each dishing out one.
 
Up Next
Rider opens MAAC play Saturday, hosting Marist at 4 p.m.