ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The seventh-seeded Vanderbilt soccer team’s run at the SEC Tournament came to finish in the opening round on Sunday after falling in a penalty shootout to 10th-seeded Florida at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The game was decided on a shootout after 110 minutes of action and the score tied at 1-1.
Vanderbilt (8-8-3) took a 1-0 lead on a blast from Maddie Elwell in the 72nd minute. The Commodores held the advantage on the scoreboard until the 89th minute when Florida found the equalizer on a header by Madison Alexander to force overtime.
Elwell. You legend. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/ofkiX3pppP
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) October 31, 2021
In the penalty shootout, Kate Devine, Ella Shamburger and Alex Kerr all scored their shot. The Gators scored their first four, however, and had two stops to take the shootout by a 4-3 margin.
Precision passing led to a scoring opportunity in the 21st minute for the Dores. Elwell sent a cross to the far post where Amber Nguyen headed it back to Peyton Cutshall who had her volley blocked by a Florida defender to keep the game scoreless.
Devine made one save in the first half as the Gators outshot the Commodores by a 6-3 margin in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 69th minute, Quinn Cornog got her head on a corner from Nguyen, but her attempt sailed just high of the target.
Vandy’s goal came in the 72nd minute when Elwell carried the ball down the left flank and ripped a beautiful shot to the far post from 18 yards out. The shot was the first on goal for the Dores on the day.
Vanderbilt took two shots in the first overtime session but was unable to put the golden goal past the Florida goalkeeper.
In the 104th minute, Nguyen ripped a shot from 20 yards out that sailed over the bar. Neither team scored in the second overtime period, forcing the game to penalty kicks.
Vanderbilt finished with 10 shots on the day and took five corners to Florida’s seven.
It was the first time Vanderbilt had a game decided on penalty kicks since the 2019 NCAA Tournament against Clemson.
SEC Tournament Heartbreak by Vanderbilt Athletics on on Exposure
