NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Missed opportunities doomed Vanderbilt on its opening night as the Commodores’ women’s soccer team outshot visiting UAB, 19-6, but lost the game by a 3-1 margin. The Blazers scored two first-half goals and held on in the face of 13 second-half shots by Vanderbilt to earn the victory.
The Commodores possessed the ball comfortably in the game’s opening minutes and threatened the UAB box despite not recording a shot on goal until the 14th minute. The Blazers would tally the game’s first goal against the run of play in the 29th minute. Erin Pincombe cross a ball into VU’s penalty area, and a defensive miscommunication allowed Abby Phillips to get a clean header past VU goalkeeper Alexa Levick.
UAB’s second goal came just six minutes later on a penalty kick. Vanderbilt was called for a foul inside their own box and UAB’s Johanna Liney converted from the penalty spot.
Vanderbilt came out of halftime with new life and took a total of 13 shots in the second 45 minutes. Sophomore Jamie Kator played a number of dangerous balls off corner kicks, but repeatedly the efforts would slide past the wrong side of the goal post.
On a UAB counterattack In the 71st minute, Liney played a cross toward Vanderbilt’s six-yard box and a Commodore defender headed the ball past her own keeper to make the Blazer advantage 3-0.
Vanderbilt fired six shots in the game’s final 15 minutes and finally connected in the 83rd minute. After another dangerous Kator corner kick, freshman Krystina Iordanou had a point-blank shot blocked by a UAB defender, but the rebound found junior Taylor Richardson and the’ left back finally put the Commodores on the board. It marks the first goal of her VU career.
Vanderbilt returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 25, when Oklahoma State visits the VU Soccer Complex for a 1 p.m. CT tilt. The Cowgirls were 1-0 winners at UT Martin on Friday night. Sunday is “Camper Reunion Day.” All youth who attended 2013 Vanderbilt soccer camps can receive free admission to the game by wearing their camp t-shirt or bringing their voucher.
