NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt soccer team picked up a 0-0 draw in double overtime versus visiting Florida in the SEC opener for both teams on Friday night at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
The Commodores (3-4-2, 0-0-1 SEC) were dangerous all night, outshooting the Gators (1-5-2, 0-0-1 SEC) by a 19-8 margin and earning 12 corner kicks but came just short of finding the game-winning goal.
“I was extremely proud of how we played this game,” Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose said. “We certainly created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably and looked in control on possession. I think we started to see some growth tonight, and I am confident that if we continue to train and play the way we did tonight the results will come.”
Vanderbilt produced an early chance in the 10th minute when Sophia Gorski carried the ball into the box, cut back and fired just inches off target.
Later off a corner that bounced out of the box, Ella Shamburger ripped a shot from 22 yards out that nailed the crossbar in the 24th minute.
Ella. Off the crossbar. pic.twitter.com/ukPL5MEu5A
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) September 18, 2021
Despite a scoreless first half, the Commodores outshot the Gators by a 10-4 margin.
Vandy’s first chance in the second half came in the 58th minute when Abi Brighton’s shot from 12 yards out beat the goalkeeper but was saved off the line by a Florida defender.
Wow. Brighton literally within inches of finding the back of the net. pic.twitter.com/BxxxqOGOCe
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) September 18, 2021
A dangerous header from Madi Allen off a Shamburger free kick in the 62nd minute from just inside half was saved by Florida goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg to keep the game scoreless.
In a near repeat of the previous chance, Allen again got her head on a Shamburger free kick in the 67th minute – this time resulting in a diving save by Goldberg.
Chances for both sides came up empty forcing the game to overtime tied at 0-0.
In the first overtime session, Vandy earned a pair of corners from Maddie Elwell that were dangerous but did not produce the golden goal.
Raegan Kelley’s shot in double overtime was inches from the post, keeping the game scoreless. Kelley was again involved in a scoring chance later in the double overtime period when her through ball to Amber Nguyen led to a 50-50 ball that caromed away from the goal.
The Commodores held 58 percent of the possession on the night.
In goal, sophomore Kate Devine tallied four saves for the shutout in her first SEC regular season action.
The Dores will now hit the road to take on South Carolina at 6 p.m. Sept. 23.
