NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Three second-half goals propelled Auburn to a 4-1 victory over the home standing Vanderbilt women’s soccer team Friday in Southeastern Conference action.
The Tigers took an early lead in the eighth minute when a service off a free kick from midfield was deflected to the feet of Mary Coffed who finished past a charging Shannon Morrish. The freshman goalkeeper for the Commodores would make three saves in her first career start.
The score remained 1-0 through halftime, but the Tigers were quickly back on the board in the second half. Coffed played a cross from left-to-right along the end line and Maddie Barnes met the ball inside of the far post to head it home.
Down 2-0, the Commodores had pushed numbers forward when Auburn struck on a counterattack in the 73rd minute. Tori Ball received a ball near midfield and streaked down the left side of the field. Her low shot was deflected by Morrish but still stuck in the goal at the far post to give AU a 3-0 advantage.
Auburn’s fourth goal came in the 81st minute. Ana Cate played a lovely cross into the six-yard box that Logan Beal slid just underneath a diving Morrish.
The Commodores broke their goal-less streak in the final minute of play. Vanderbilt earned a free kick just outside of the penalty area near the center of the arc. Freshman Erin Myers stepped up and struck a laser past Auburn’s Amy Howard for the first goal of her VU career.
Auburn held just a 14-11 advantage in shots and the Commodores won more corner kicks in the game (4-3). Each team was whistled for seven fouls in the contest.
The Commodores will play host to Florida on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. The Gators lost only their second SEC game of the season Friday, falling at Alabama. Sunday marks the final home game of the 2012 season for Vanderbilt, and Head Coach Derek Greene will be join by school officials for a pre-game ceremony to honor the Commodores’ graduating class of seniors Emily Bush, Amanda Essay, Kate Goldin, CJ Rhoades and Dana Schwartz.
