COLUMBIA, S.C. – Vanderbilt earned its first tie of the season after battling No. 7 South Carolina to a 0-0 double overtime match Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium.
The Commodores (10-3-1, 3-2-1) became the second team to hold the Gamecocks (11-1-1, 5-0-1) scoreless this season. The Commodores picked up a point in the SEC standings to become one of five teams with double digit points.
“I was extremely proud of how we battled today,” head coach Darren Ambrose said. “Defensively, all over the field the girls did an awesome job. We held our own in possession and created a couple of very good chances.”
Vanderbilt returns home for just one match this weekend with a visit from LSU on Friday at 7 p.m. CT. Friday’s tilt is Vanderbilt’s senior day and admission is free for all fans.
Goalkeepers Lauren Demarchi and Taiana Tolleson split the first two halves with Tolleson staying in net for the overtimes. The duo combined for their ninth shutout of the season with each posting two saves.
The Commodores kept a Gamecock offense that has scored 27 times this season in check. The Dores also defended set pieces extremely well, fighting off nine corner kicks.
Sunday’s match marked the second straight season Vanderbilt and South Carolina dueled to a scoreless tie after posting the exact same outcome in 2018.
Still suffering from injuries, Vanderbilt saw six different players play all 110 minutes – Madi Allen, Maddie Elwell, Madiya Harriott, Grace Jackson, Raegan Kelley and Ella Shamburger. Nia Dorsey and Haley Hopkins also played over 100 minutes.
Vanderbilt only substituted three players from its starting lineup in the double overtime contest.
Hannon Eberts made her season debut and played significant minutes. The senior forward suffered an ACL injury against Kentucky in 2018.
“We were a little disappointed to not find a game-winner, but getting a point on the road against a top-10 team speaks volumes about the grittiness of this group,” Ambrose said.
