‘Dores Blank MSU to tie SEC Record

‘Dores Blank MSU to tie SEC Record

10/21/2005

Nashville — The No. 20 Vanderbilt women’s soccer team tied a school and Southeastern Conference record Friday night when it shut out its 12^th opponent on the season. The Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-10-3, 2-7 SEC) was the most recent victim among a dozen of teams that have been shutout by the Commodores (14-3, 7-2 SEC) this year, when VU held on to a 2-0 win on a cold and rainy night.

After controlling possession and out-shooting the Bulldogs throughout the first half, the Commodores took a 1-0 lead in the 43^rd minute when an attempted cross from freshman Jessica Lenze (Peachtree City, Ga.) was knocked into the MSU net but a Bulldog defender for an own goal. However it was Vanderbilt’s defense, which has been setting records and making headlines all season, that was the story again tonight.

Earlier in the year, junior goalkeeper Tyler Griffin (Charlotte, N.C.) set a new mark for consecutive scoreless minutes and then after allowing a goal immediately broke the record again to set a new mark at 549 minutes. Griffin was twice named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Griffin registered two saves as she earned her tenth shutout — she did not receive credit for shutouts against Francis Marion and Arkansas as she was pulled with a 4-0 lead each time. Griffin has been superb in goal for the Commodores, but she’s had plenty of help from a talented and experienced corps of defenders.

Juniors Kim Perkins (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Monica Buff (Lilburn, Ga.) join Griffin and senior midfielder/defender Lauren Mitchell (Millersville, Md.) as the only players to start every game this season for head coach Ronnie Coveleskie Hill, while junior defender Kari Boersma (Littleton, Colo.) has started all but one. Both Perkins have earned individual accolades this year including SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Perkins also provided offense as she scored the second goal for Vanderbilt when she put her head on a cross from junior forward Lea Lafield (Dallas, Texas) on a corner kick in the 67^th minute and found the back of the net. It was Perkins first goal on the season, and Lafield’s seventh assist, tying her team-leading number from last season.

Perkins and the defensive unit are allowing a measly 7.1 shots per game, and only half of those are on goal, making Griffin’s job that much easier. Senior Ashley Duffy (Ashburn, Va.), Mitchell and freshman Amy Wilcox (Arlington, Va.) have also contributed significantly on defense this year.

The Commodores will take their defense on the road and hope to earn another shutout when they face Ole Miss (14-3, 8-1 SEC), which is tied for 1^st with Tennessee, one game in front of VU, in Oxford, Miss. at 2:30 p.m.