NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second straight Friday, the Vanderbilt soccer team threw a scare into a Top 10 foe.
The Commodores hung with No. 9 Florida, even taking the lead in the first half before falling short in a 3-2 loss at the VU Soccer Complex on a rain-drenched Friday night.
“I was proud of the effort. I thought our kids left everything out there,” Vanderbilt coach Darren Ambrose said. “They believed, we all believed going into the game again – just as we did last week – that we could win the game. The way we wanted to play, I thought the kids did a great job of that. We scored our goals the way we thought we might be able to score. We defended well and forced turnovers.
“It is almost like a broken record at the moment – we’re playing teams that punish you for mistakes. We made some glaring mistakes. These teams are too good when you do that. But, overall, from start to finish, our kids battled incredibly hard. To me that is a sign of a team that is growing and playing for each other.”
Similar to a 1-0 loss to No. 5 Texas A&M last week, Vanderbilt showed it belonged on the same field as the Gators, who were the preseason pick to win the SEC. Last year, the Commodores lost to A&M and Florida – both Top 10 teams then as well – by a combined score of 12-3, conceding six goals to both. That margin closed to 4-2 this season, with a pair of one-goal losses and, in both games, Vanderbilt went into halftime tied with its opponent.
“This team is really stinging because they’ve left it all out there and they’ve performed admirably,” Ambrose said. “I mean, I am proud of them – I am. But we’ve lost the games. I think the difference for me, and I’ve said this, my teams will fight and they will play for each other. They’re doing that, and I’m proud of them for that.”
Florida (8-2, 2-1 SEC) scored first with a goal by Sarah Troccoli that went off VU goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami’s glove, deflected off the inside of the right post and in.
But the Commodores (5-5-1, 1-2) didn’t back down. Two goals within less than two minutes of each other put Vanderbilt in front. Both were set up All-SEC forward Simone Charley, who Ambrose said prove tonight she can be a “provider.” The team’s active leader in career goals twice sent in crosses after using her speed to get to the right side and draw Florida defenders.
Both passes that ended in goals went in the direction of Taylor Elliott. In the 25th minute, Elliott settled in Charley’s assist and struck the ball with her right foot, slipping a shot just inside the near post for her second goal in as many games.
Less than two minutes later, in the 27th minute, Charley again centered a pass toward Elliott. This time the ball went off the back of a Florida defender and right to Lydia Simmons. The redshirt sophomore one-timed the ball out of the air. Her shot went to the center of the box and just out of the reach of Florida keeper Kaylan Marckese, who was falling backwards. She got her hand on the ball but it wasn’t enough to keep it from crossing the goal line.
For Simmons, it was her team-high fourth goal of the season (she hadn’t scored before this season). It was also the first two-assist night for Charley.
“We pressed (Florida) and forced them into giving us the ball in their half,” Ambrose said. “From that, we were able to create opportunities. We knew that if we could get Simone wide and on the outside, she could really cause problems because she draws players. Sure enough, we centered the ball quickly. She got to the end line, which we preach all year to our players – get behind the outside backs and get the ball served across. It was a combination of pressure and relentless defending.”
Ambrose also praised the play of senior midfielder Jamie Kator, who harassed the Gators into mistakes and turnovers. Kator was filling in for redshirt junior Kacy Scarpa, who missed the game due to a concussion.
“Florida’s midfield is very patient and very skillful, but Jamie Kator just did a lot of work off of the ball that created a lot of turnovers for us,” Ambrose said. “It is not a glorious position, but I thought she did a really great job of stepping in for Kacy Scarpa.”
Vanderbilt couldn’t get to halftime with the lead, though. Florida’s Brooke Sharp scored in the top right corner in the 32nd minute to knot the game at 2-2. The Gators then went ahead for good in the second half with the difference-maker in the 56th minute. Betsy Middleton struck a shot 25 yards outside of the box past Ogunsami, who was retreating back to the goal after coming out and trying to clear a cross.
Ambrose credited Florida for adjusting midway through the first half. The Gators started in a 3-5-2 formation, with three defenders and five midfielders. But after the Commodores created turnovers in the middle and shots up front, UF switched to a 4-2-3-1, putting just one attacker up front.
“We rattled them, and they knew if they kept playing that way, we were probably going to beat them,” Ambrose said. “They changed to a 4-2-3-1, which gave them the advantage. It is a lot like A&M did. So in the second half, to be fair, I don’t think they looked like scoring until we made that crucial mistake in the back. We were prepared to concede to Florida that you can possess (the ball) all you want, but when we win (the ball) we’re going to be coming. So we gave them a little of the game back. Unfortunately, we made a mistake on a very simple, routine play that we didn’t deal with well. The kid was opportunistic and what a great finish on their part.”
Florida outshot Vanderbilt 17-9, with the Commodores getting just three shots after halftime. All four of Vanderbilt’s shots on goals came in the first half.
Up next is in-state rival Tennessee at 4 p.m. on Sunday in a game that will be aired nationally on SEC Network. Admission is free at the VU Soccer Complex and the first 250 Vanderbilt students will receive VU soccer scarves.
