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Commodores Travel to #7 SMU and Tulsa
10/8/2004
Commodores Travel to #7 SMU and Tulsa
The Vanderbilt men’s soccer team (6-3-1, 2-0) is on the road this weekend with two Missouri Valley Conference games. The Commodores take on #7 SMU Friday (Oct. 8) and Tulsa Sunday (Oct. 10).
Friday’s game with the Mustangs will be broadcast through the web at www.smumustangs.com at 8 pm. Live stats of the Tulsa/Vanderbilt game will be available at www.TulsaHurricane.com at 1:35 pm
Below are some Vanderbilt Game Notes:
VANDERBILT COMMODORES (6-3-1, 2-0-0) Oct. 8 at #7 SMU Mustangs (7-3, 2-0-0) ? 8 pm ? Westcott Field ? Dallas, Texas Oct. 10 at Tulsa Hurricanes (4-3-2, 0-1-1) ? 1:35 pm ? Hurricane Soccer Stadium ? Tulsa, Okla.
? Vanderbilt is undefeated in its last six consecutive games with a 3-3 tie vs. Northwestern and wins against Memphis, Lipscomb, Wright State, Evansville and Southwest Missouri. ? VU Head Coach Tim McClements and assistant coach Kyle Mittendorf were both assistant coaches at SMU. McClements was an assistant coach from 2000-02, while Mittendorf was a volunteer assistant during the 2001 season. ? The Commodores are ranked #6 in the NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region (Sept. 28). It is the highest ranking for Vanderbilt since Tim McClements took over as head coach in 2002. VU entered the Midwest region rankings last weekend at #10. ? The Commodores total 73 points this season in 10 games. Last season, VU totaled 42 points in 18 games. Vanderbilt leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 73 points.
Commodores Off to Best Start since 1998
Vanderbilt is off to its best start with a 6-3-1 record since the 1998 season when the Commodores were 9-3 in their opening 12 games. The Commodores are 5-0-1 in their last six games, including five consecutive wins. It is the longest undefeated streak since 1996 when VU won six consecutive games. Vanderbilt’s six wins this season doubles the Commodore win total in 2002 (three) and 2003 (three).
Also Off to Best MVC Season Start
The Commodores are 2-0 to start Missouri Valley Conference action for the third time since joining the league in 1997. In 1998, VU started league play with a 2-0 record, including a victory over regular season champion Bradley (6-1-1) and Eastern Illinois. In 2000, VU was 2-0 with wins over Evansville and Western Kentucky. VU has won two MVC games this season which is more than the 2002 and 2003 season total combined. Vanderbilt won one league game in 2002 and was 0-7-2 last season.
Vanderbilt vs. SMU
This is the sixth meeting between these two teams with SMU owning a 5-0 lead in the series. Last season, SMU defeated the Commodores in Nashville, 2-1, in double overtime.
2003 SMU 2, at Vanderbilt 1 2ot
2002 at SMU 4, Vanderbilt 0
2001 SMU 2, at Vanderbilt 0 at SMU 2, Vanderbilt 1 ot
2000 at SMU 5, Vanderbilt 0 Vanderbilt vs. Tulsa
The Hurricanes own a 4-1-1 lead in the series. Last season, the teams played to a 2-2 tie in Nashville.
2003 at Vanderbilt 2, Tulsa 2
2002 at Tulsa 3, Vanderbilt 1 2001 at Vanderbilt 2, Tulsa 1
2000 Tulsa 5, at Vanderbilt 2 1989 at Tulsa 8, Vanderbilt 2
1985 at Tulsa 1, Vanderbilt 0
Last Action ? Vanderbilt Defeats Southwest Missouri, 1-0
Josh Medcalf scored at the 67:42 mark giving Vanderbilt a 1-0 victory over Southwest Missouri at the Vanderbilt Soccer Stadium. Medcalf hit the game winner from 18-yards after a Joe Germanese shot deflected off a Southwest Missouri defender. Medcalf was in perfect position to kick the rebound in for the goal. “It was an absolute battle,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim McClements said. “Southwest Missouri is a very strong team and they caused us a host of problems. It was a very even match.” The Bears outshot Vanderbilt 15-7, including 11-4 in the second half. With Vanderbilt leading 1-0 and 10 minutes remaining in the contest, SMSU’s Danny May hit a quick shot from 12-yards out, but VU goalkeeper Kenny Schoeni made a great save on the ball. Jim Levesque had the final shot attempt for the Bears with just under three minutes remaining, but the ball bounced to Schoeni in goal. The game was scoreless at halftime with Southwest Missouri outshooting Vanderbilt 4-3. Two of the Commodore’s shots came in the last 24 seconds when Tim Lonergan had a touch from six-yards out deflect off a Southwest Missouri player giving Vanderbilt a corner kick. Medcalf took the kick from Jamie Gilbert from the right corner and missed just right of the goal with three seconds remaning. May totaled two shots in the first half with his first attempt sailng high at the 7:52 mark and the other rolling to Schoeni. Jim Levesque hit a 15-yarder wide left at the 27:27 mark. The Commodore defense kept clearing the ball in the final two minutes to win their fifth consecutive game. “I’m proud of our play and how the guys stepped up and found a way to win,” McClements added. “We battled for all 90 minutes after a tough Friday night win and a very difficult week in the classroom with midterms. It was a great team effort.” Schoeni totaled four saves in the contest, while SMSU’s Nathan Platz faced only one shot on goal. Vanderbilt Ranked #6 in the Midwest Region The Commodores are ranked for the second consecutive week in the Midwest Region moving up to #6 this week (Oct. 4). After going undefeated in four consecutive games, VU broke into the regional rankings Sept. 28 at #10. It was the first ranking for the Commodores since Tim McClement’s took over as head coach in 2002. 2004 NSCAA/adidas? Midwest Regional Rankings — Oct. 4 1. SMU 2. Creighton 3. Memphis 4. Saint Louis 4. Tulsa 6. Vanderbilt 7. Southwest Missouri 8. Bradley 9. Northern Illinois 10.
Oral Roberts Offensive Commodores
The Commodores total 73 points in 10 games this season. Last season, Vanderbilt totaled 42 points in 18 contests. The Commodores have already exceeded their 2003 assists total with 27 this season compared to last year’s 10 assists. Six Commodores total five or more points already this season (Krause-20, Germanese-14, Josh Medcalf-9, Jamie Gilbert-6, Jerry Yirenky-6, Pat Ryan-9). Last season in 18 games, only three players totaled at least five points led by Jimmy Stone with nine.
Commodore MVC Leaders
? Vanderbilt leads the league with 73 points, followed by Creighton with 66.
? John Krause leads the MVC with 22 points and four game-winning goals. He is second with nine goals.
? Joe Germanese leads the league with six assists and is fifth with 14 points
? Goalkeeper Kenny Schoeni is ninth with a .711 save percentage and fourth with two shutouts.
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