STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 21 Vanderbilt soccer posted four first-half goals on the way to a 5-1 road victory over RV Mississippi State on Thursday night at the MSU Soccer Field. It marks the first loss for the Bulldogs at home since 2023.
Five different Commodores contributed to the scoring as Vanderbilt (11-3-1, 5-2-1 SEC) notched its fourth straight SEC win and fifth victory in its last six matches. Vanderbilt’s 11 wins mark the most since the 2022 season and is the fourth time under Darren Ambrose reaching the mark.
Maci Teater got the Dores started early, scoring in the fourth minute off a cross from Olivia Stafford at the top of the box. Just nine minutes later, Grace Freeman tallied her first goal in black and gold to double the Commodore lead.
Sydney Watts netted her 10th goal of the season in the 36th minute off a feed from Vivian Akyirem. Two minutes later, the duo switched roles as Akyirem converted a pass from Watts and Mary Beth McLaughlin to make it 4–0 before halftime.
Vandy’s four goals in the first half marked the most first-half goals in an SEC contest since 2018 against Georgia.
That was a fun first half 🤩 pic.twitter.com/G3hOqBv3Hb
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) October 17, 2025
Mississippi State (9-4-1, 4-3-1 SEC) pulled one back in the 50th minute on a strike from Kyra Taylor, but Vanderbilt capped the night in the 78th when Courtney Jones fired a free kick from home her sixth goal of the season to close out the 5–1 win.
If this isn’t #SCTop10, we dont know what is‼️ pic.twitter.com/GlAlgOqVb7
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) October 17, 2025
The Commodores outshot the Bulldogs 15-9 and held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Sara Wojdelko recorded four saves to earn her 10th win of the season.
Vanderbilt returns to the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex on Sunday to face No. 4 Tennessee at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
