Welcome to Durham

By Weinman -

The lacrosse team arrived in North Carolina late last night, flying into Charlotte and then driving 200 miles to Durham. The team practiced at 1 p.m. today next to Koskinen Stadium as the Duke men took on Johns Hopkins (spoiler alert: DU beat JHU, 18-5). The rest of the day is reserved for rest and relaxation until dinner at 411 in Chapel Hill - a favorite of VU asst. coach and UNC grad Amber Falcone.

Tomorrow's game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT start. Live stats will be available through the web site.

More Commodores lending a hand

By Weinman -

Along with all the great work being done by those associated with Vanderbilt athletics in the Nashville community, a tip of the hat to the lacrosse team. The Commodores will travel to Duke this weekend for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. After practice this afternoon, the ladies took time out to prepare and deliver sandwiches and bottled water to residents and volunteers working in the Richland Creek area.

It was another small but oh-so-important gesture as Middle Tennessee begins to rebuild. Kudos also to the Tennessee Titans, who were in the neighborhood working hard on many battered homes. Great to see those guys, including 2006 VU grad Jovan Haye, giving back to the community that loves them so much.

Video: Postgame with Sarah Downing

Travis Young of VUcommodores.com interviews Vanderbilt senior lacrosse player Sarah Downing after the Commodores defeated Johns Hopkins, 20-12 for their seventh straight win at the VU Lacrosse Complex Saturday.

Downing, a 2009 All-American, finished the game with a game-high 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) to lead the offensive attack.

Click here for the game recap.

March Student-Athletes of the Month

by Barca Blog

Congratulations to Megan Gibson (Women's Lacrosse) and Alex Zotov (Men's Tennis) for being named Vanderbilt's Student-Athletes of the Month for March.

They were chosen on the basis of the all-around student-athlete... effort and excellence in academics, leadership, integrity, dedication to team, campus involvement, community service and the ability to serve as role models for current and future Vanderbilt students and student-athletes.

Click here to read Q&A's with the two honorees.

Commodore Conversation with Alex Mundy

In the latest Commodore Conversation, Christina Lipscombe talks with Vanderbilt women's lacrosse senior Alex Mundy.

November Student-Athletes of the Month

by Barca Blog - Congratulations to Alex Mundy (Women's Lacrosse) and Joel Caldwell (Football) for being named Vanderbilt's Student-Athletes of the Month for November.

They were chosen on the basis of the all-around student-athlete... effort and excellence in academics, leadership, integrity, dedication to team, campus involvement, community service and the ability to serve as role models for current and future Vanderbilt students and student-athletes.

Click here to read Q&A's with the two honorees.

Giordano feature

by Barca Blog - Make sure you check out David Boclair's feature in The City Paper on midfielder Cara Giordano as the Vanderbilt women's lacrosse team prepares for their NCAA Tournament first round matchup with Notre Dame. Read

Also, in case you missed the video spotlight on Giordano in the ItsGoodtobeGold.com series, watch below.

Lacrosse in City Paper

By Weinman - Keep an eye out for tomorrow's Nashville City Paper. Vanderbilt beat writer David Boclair came by lacrosse practice this afternoon and grabbed a few minutes with senior Cara Giordano and Head Coach Cathy Swezey (above).

The Commodores are leaving tomorrow for Notre Dame for their first round NCAA Tournament game (Sunday, 4 p.m. CT). Giordano and her fellow seniors will all the opportunity to walk at tomorrow's commencement before the team heads out of town.

Lacrosse returns to NCAA Tournament

by Barca Blog - After earning its third straight NCAA Tournament berth, the Vanderbilt women's lacrosse team will open against sixth seeded Notre Dame (15-4) in the first round on Sunday, May 10.

Considering Vanderbilt was one of the final at-large teams selected, the Commodores (10-6) received a pretty good draw. The 'Dores dominated the Irish, 18-11, in Nashville almost three weeks ago, but will have to travel to Alumni Field this time around, a place where Notre Dame is 7-2 this season. ND is also riding a four-game winning streak since that loss, highlighted by BIG EAST tournament wins over Syracuse and Georgetown (both in the NCAA Field) to secure their first-ever league championship.

If Vanderbilt gets past the Irish, they face a possible quarterfinals matchup with third seed North Carolina (13-4), who plays Towson (13-5) in the first round. The Tar Heels edged the Commodores, 14-13, in overtime in both team's season opener on February 15 in Nashville.

It should be noted that Vanderbilt is on the opposite side of the bracket of four-time defending national champion and top-seeded Northwestern (19-0).

Check out the full bracket plus take a look at Inside Lacrosse's tournament breakdown.

LAX to play Hopkins in ALC Tourney

By Weinman - Penn State's 12-11 victory at Johns Hopkins on Saturday knocked the Commodore lacrosse team into the fourth seed for the upcoming American Lacrosse Conference Tournament, hosted by the Nittany Lions in University Park, Pa.

National Offensive Player of the Week Sarah Downing will lead Vanderbilt against Johns Hopkins on Thursday afternoon (3 p.m. ET/2 CT) in the #4/#5 game for the right to take on top-seeded Northwestern in Friday's semifinal.

Video: ESPNU features LAX's Giordano

By Weinman - Vanderbilt senior Jacquie Berger produced a feature video on lacrosse standout Cara Giordano for the ESPNU's Campus Connection. Click here for the video.

More Lacrosse photos

by Barca Blog - We just posted John Russell's photos from No. 12 Vanderbilt's 18-11 victory over No. 9 Notre Dame on Wednesday at the VU Lacrosse Complex. Check them out and also take a look at the complete recap of the win.

Lacrosse Senior Day photos

by Barca Blog - Here's a photo gallery of lacrosse senior day (courtesy of Weinman), which took place prior to Vanderbilt's big home matchup with No. 9 Notre Dame today.

The five graduating Commodores pictured from left to right are Jess Demorest, Merissa Eide, Carolyn Gioia, Cara Giordano and Rachel Woolford. Prior to today, this class has been a part of 38 victories and hopes to become the first group of 'Dores to make three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.

By the way... No. 12 Vanderbilt leads Notre Dame 10-3 at the half. Watch a free live webcast of the second half at VUcommodores.com.