NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Commodore women’s soccer team notched its second straight shutout victory on Friday, defeating visiting Western Kentucky, 2-0.
Vanderbilt struck first in the 35th minute of the game. Junior Dana Schwartz was taken down in the box to earn a penalty kick for the Commodores, which classmate CJ Rhoades finished to give VU a 1-0 advantage at 34:39.
Commodore senior Candace West gave the home team an insurance goal in the 55th minute. A nice series of passes helped freshman Ashley Oswald get free down the left side, and her serve across the face of the goal was volleyed inside the far post by West.
Redshirt freshman Alexa Levick made two saves for her second consecutive clean sheet, but she also had some assistance from her teammates. In the 18th minute, Levick was left one-on-one against WKU’s Mallory Outerbridge, and got enough just enough of the shot to allow a sprinting Amanda Essay to clear the ball off the line. In the 31st minute, Western created another chance off a corner kick, but Oswald was at the far post to head the ball away.
Vanderbilt outshot Western Kentucky, 8-4, on the evening, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Commodores (2-0) return to action on Sunday, playing host to Missouri State. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT.
