ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – The Vanderbilt soccer team saw its run at the SEC Tournament end Thursday afternoon in the semifinals after Arkansas won the match 4-2 on penalty kicks to advance on to the SEC Finals.
Following the result, head coach Darren Ambrose was proud of his team’s effort tonight and throughout the tournament.
“I thought over the 110 minutes that we played well enough to win, just couldn’t find the goal,” said Ambrose. “I am just thrilled to bits with the way we played, the way we defended, the resolve we have had and the toughness we have shown. It has been fantastic to see the team grow like that this year.”
In the first half, the opening 20 minutes went back and forth with possession as both teams had a few chances in their attacking half.
The Razorbacks turned an opportunity into the first goal of the match in the 21st minute. Parker Goins took a free kick and sent it on frame. Kaitlyn Fahrner made the initial save but Kayla McKeon got to the rebound and scored to give the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead.
With just under five minutes remaining in the half, the Commodores would take advantage of an opportunity of their own.
After a long possession in their attacking half, Madison Elwell sent a cross towards the far post. Kaylann Boyd beat her defender to the ball and sent it back towards the six-yard box. Paola Ellis came streaking in and beat the Arkansas keeper to the ball and sent it in the net for the equalizer.
Ellis would get another crack at a goal a few minutes later but Rachel Harris made the save and the score would be tied at 1-1 at halftime.
In the second half, the Commodores held a good portion of the possession in hopes of finding the go-ahead goal. The Dores were patient and passed the ball from side to side in hopes to catch Arkansas off guard.
In the 80th minute, it was the Razorbacks that looked to get the go-ahead goal when Taylor Malham beat her defender and just had Fahrner to beat. Fahrner came off her line, stayed low and made a courageous save to keep the game level.
Three minutes later, the Dores had their best chance of the second half when Lydia Simmons took a shot from 25 yards out and it was heading towards the top right corner. Unfortunately the ball had too much air underneath it and it sailed just high of the goal.
The score would stay at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time was needed. In the first overtime period, the Razorbacks were all over the ball and had a number of chances come off corner kicks. None of the chances turned into goals and a second overtime period was needed.
In the second overtime, the Commodores had a chance in the 105th minute when Simone Charley had a header from just inside the 18-yard box. She sent it towards the far post but it just went wide of the net.
Neither team could get a goal in the extra time and it would come to penalty kicks to decide who would advance to the finals. The Commodores had their first kick saved and the second went off the post and that was all Arkansas needed as they hit all four of their shots to advance on in the tournament.
The Commodores will now await the results of the NCAA Selection Show to see if their season will continue. The show will air on NCAA.com Monday, Nov. 6th at 3:30pm CT.
“I told the team that I would rather be here feeling like this than not having the opportunity to be here at all,” said Ambrose. “We played two tough games, won one and tied the other. It is not something that derailed us from the bigger picture, we just need to build on it. Monday morning we will be back at practice and wait for the NCAA Selection Show and hopefully keep playing next week.”
