COLUMBIA, S.C. — Facing its first road test of the SEC slate, the Vanderbilt soccer team suffered a 1-0 setback versus No. 19 South Carolina on Thursday night at Stone Stadium.
The Commodores (3-5-2, 0-1-1 SEC) yielded a goal in the 70th minute that proved to be the difference versus the Gamecocks (7-2-0, 2-0-0 SEC), which are ranked No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll.
“While I’m very disappointed with the end result, I am really proud of how this team continues to invest themselves,” head coach Darren Ambrose said. “We played a tough team on the road incredibly well for 89-plus minutes but learned that one 20-second lapse of concentration at this level can be costly. These are all lessons that will come back to help us over the coming months and years with this group.”
Vanderbilt goalkeeper Kate Devine came up with a number of big plays including one save in the first half to keep the game scoreless heading to the intermission.
Devine’s diving save in the 58th minute extinguished South Carolina’s first chance of the second half.
Oh my. @KateDevine5 doing her thing. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/pFpQG2ua8H
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) September 24, 2021
The Dores produced a number of chances in the second half. Amber Nguyen slotted a ball across the face of the goal in the 62nd minute that was cleared for one of Vanderbilt’s four second half corner kicks.
The Gamecocks scored the game’s only goal in the 70th minute when a cross from Camryn Dixon fell to the feet of Eveleen Hahn – who delivered a strike from 10 yards out.
Vandy attempted to answer with an offensive push of its own. Tina Bruni’s header in the 74th minute bounced just wide to keep the Dores off the scoreboard.
In the closing 20 minutes, the Commodores registered one shot and one corner kick but South Carolina’s defense was up to the task.
Vanderbilt returns to Nashville to host Alabama at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
Dores at South Carolina by Vanderbilt Athletics on on Exposure
