NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt is feeling pretty good about itself. The Commodores also are wary of a feeling of over-confidence going into the always-daunting Southeastern Conference schedule.
“It’s nice to have that feeling that we haven’t given up many goals and people are getting more confident and younger players are coming in, which is nice going into SEC play,” Vandy keeper Kate Devine said. “But we also know that the level is going to be raised a lot. You kind of have to forget about nonconference play and reset your mind coming into SEC play.”
Vanderbilt opens league play noon Sunday on ESPNU at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex looking to continue quite the impressive start to the season. Vandy (6-0-1) is unbeaten in its first seven fixtures and has allowed just one goal, that coming in a 1-1 draw against Lipscomb.
The 2019 team also went unbeaten in its first seven matches. No Vanderbilt squad has ever made through its first eight games without a defeat.
Vanderbilt’s one goal allowed through seven matches is a program record.
“I think that the athleticism in the back is better than it ever has been, which is really nice,” Devine said. “People are making tackles and just being big on set pieces. I think going into SEC play we’re really confident in the back.”
The Commodores have also been sharp on the attack with 21 goals to their name. Ten different Dores have found the back of the net led by Raegan Kelley’s five and Rachel Deresky’s four. Kelley also leads the squad with seven assists.
But Vandy knows the level of defense it will be encountering from here on out will be much tougher.
“I think one thing we really need to do better at is getting to the end line more instead of cutting inside,” Vandy senior Alex Kerr said. “We have the pace, we have the players that can get to the end line and serve those balls in. That’s one thing that we were maybe lacking a little bit during nonconference.
“Communication is one thing (head) coach (Darren) Ambrose talks about a lot. Because we have younger players and veterans players we’re still kind of learning to communicate with other. We have the talent, we have the pace, we have the trickiness in us, so it’s just about communicating and being on the same page is something that we’re going to try to get better at during SEC play.”
LSU (5-1-2) comes to Nashville having won 4-of-5 and looking to rebound off its first defeat of the campaign, a 3-2 setback at No. 6 Rutgers. The Tigers have also been road warriors playing matches at Princeton, Southern Mississippi, No. 14 Pepperdine and San Diego.
Ida Hermannsdottir and Alesia Garcia have each scored four goals for LSU and keeper Mollee Swift has made 26 saves in seven starts.
Sunday’s match is the first of 10 league games for the Commodores ahead of the annual SEC Tournament in Pensacola, Florida, starting Oct. 30.
“Obviously we know we’re going to be challenged and we’re excited about that,” Kerr said of the road ahead. “We have a lot of young talent and a lot of veteran players so I think that makes us really excited and confident going into SEC play.”
Promotions at Sunday’s Match
Part of Sunday’s match festivities includes a replica jersey t-shirt giveaway to the first 250 fans through the gates. The first 100 fans into the stadium can receive a free hamburger, courtesy of Shake Shack, in honor of National Cheeseburger Day.
Concessions stands will feature half-price beverages until kickoff.
Sunday’s match is also part of Sunday Sundaes in which children can receive free Tiff’s Treats cookies and ice cream. There will also be a kids zone with inflatables, face painting, a balloon artist yards games and more.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
