Nov. 16, 2017
Purchase Tickets | WatchESPN Live Stream | Live Stats
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off last Friday’s 2-1 thrilling win over 14th-ranked and No. 4 seed Ohio State, the Vanderbilt soccer team returned to campus and are preparing for their second round matchup this Friday. The Dores will travel to Columbia, S.C. to take on Santa Clara Friday afternoon at 2 pm CT.
Last Friday night in Columbus, the Commodores fell behind after the Buckeyes scored the first goal of the match in the 30th minute. Heading into match, Ohio State was 15-0 on the season when they scored first and had given up multiple goals in only one match this season.
In the second half, the Dores got on the right side of the wind and looked to take advantage and tie the match.
In the 62nd minute, the Commodores got the chance they needed and capitalized.
It all started with Leila Azari who made a great play to keep the ball in bounds on the end line and sent a cross into the box. Lydia Simmons was camped out by the near post and headed it back towards the six-meter box. Nia Dorsey bet her defender and volleyed the ball in for the equalizer.
After a few chances for each time in the last 25 minutes of the match, it seemed extra time would be necessary until the Commodores got a late corner in the 89th minute.
Azari came on as a sub before the kick and went straight across the field to take it. She sent her ball high into the box where Stephanie Amack got under it and headed towards the near post. The OSU keeper got a hand on it but the ball was already passed the line for the go-ahead goal.
Ohio State was not able to tie the match in the final minute and 13 seconds and the Commodores came away with their first tournament win in 19 years. It is the fifth time in school history that the Dores have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting the Broncos:
Santa Clara enters Friday’s match with a 14-6-1 overall record and coming off a 2-1 win on the road against California in the first round. The Broncos finished second in the West Coast Conference after posting an 8-1 record in conference play. Saturday’s win over the Golden Bears marked the eighth straight win for Santa Clara, who have not dropped a contest since Oct. 1.
Kelsey Turnbow leads the Broncos in goals (13) and points (31) on the year while Maria Sanchez has the team lead in assists (6). Melissa Lowder and Courtney Ogren have both seen time in net this season. Lowder has started 14 games, made 64 saves and has an 11-4 record. Ogren has started five games, made 17 saves and has a 3-1-1 record.
The Broncos and Commodores have only met once in school history and it was all the way back in 1997. The Dores traveled west to take part in the Santa Clara Nike Tournament. The Broncos defeated the Dores 4-1 on Oct. 12.
