GREENVILLE, S.C. – After allowing a second half goal and a lack of tangible offensive results, the Vanderbilt soccer team enters the season scoreless following a draw against SEMO and 1-0 exhibition loss to the Furman Paladins Saturday night.
“We looked like we were struggling to keep up with the pace in the first part of the game,” said head coach Darren Ambrose. “Again, we’re still teaching them how to compete. I think Furman beat us at just about everything in the first 20 minutes of the game and that really set the tone. We struggled to get a foot in the game, and then we started making wholesale changes and took a lot of kids out who weren’t battling hard and put a lot of younger players in.
“I thought they fought and scrapped; in fact we leveled the game in terms of possession. With those changes came some stability, it wasn’t great soccer, but we started competing. There were some great moments for us and that’s what was very positive for us.”
The Commodore offense started off slow against Furman as the squad could only get one shot off in the first half, which was taken by senior Danae O’Halloran. Furman threatened on the attack throughout the first 45 minutes of play with three shots, two on goal and one wide, as well as two corner kicks in the first 18 minutes of play.
As both teams headed into the locker room at the conclusion of the first half, the Paladins led Vanderbilt eight shots to one, with half of the opponent’s opportunities on goal. All four saves were credited to starting Vandy goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner who kept the Commodores afloat in her second competition with VU.
“Kaitlyn is very vocal, she organizes us, she’s a terrific leader and made saves when she had to. Furman had the better of the half, but it wasn’t like they were ramming it down our throats for 45 minutes. They had more of the possession in the attacking third of the field.”
In the beginning of the second half, the younger players on the Vandy squad took it upon themselves to threaten the Furman defense, as Kaylann Boyd and Grace Jackson took their first and second shots in the black and gold uniform respectively. Both shots were on goal and generated momentum as another fresh face, Sydney O’Donnell, followed up the shots by taking a corner kick for VU.
“Our younger players were thrown into it. I think at one point we had seven or six on field and they held their own just fine. From Tuesday night to tonight, they responded the way that they needed to and showed that they can compete first and then play soccer. Once we learn how to compete, then we’ll learn how to win. But until then winning is a little ways off.”
With 30 minutes still remaining in Saturday night’s test, the Paladin’s senior forward Carli Couch connected off of a cross to head the ball into the back of the Commodore goal. VU had offensive opportunities following the Furman lead including a shot by Jackson, however the Dores lacked a finishing quality.
“We’re still learning about our younger players and some of the abilities that they have. I think we’ve learned tactically what we need to do different, but we told them at halftime that it’s not about the tactical part of the game at the moment. We’re not there yet. We have to learn how to battle and win loose balls and the little things that will allow us to be more dominant.”
Before the Commodores open up the season this Friday on the road against Miami (Ohio), fans will have a chance to meet the 2016 squad in person. The team will be playing games and signing posters at Dore Jam tomorrow, Sunday August 14th, at 2:00 pm. This annual fun fan event is hosted in the indoor facility.
“It’s just really nice to be in the community, and obviously putting our girls out there who represent all that is right about collegiate athletics. I’m proud of our team and it’s nice to have a nine-year old kid come up and say, ‘you’re my favorite player’ to one of our student-athletes. It also says a lot to our girls and the younger players that they really are on a pedestal. Dore Jam will be eye opening for a lot of the girls to see the couple thousand people who come through. We’re looking forward to it, it’ll be a great experience.”
