‘Dores Break SEC Record in 0-0 Draw

‘Dores Break SEC Record in 0-0 Draw

10/23/2005

Oxford, Miss. – One season after tying the school record with seven overtime games, it took 18 games before the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team found themselves in an extra period in 2005. The No. 20 Commodores (14-3-1, 7-2-1 SEC) fought the No. 23 Rebels of Ole Miss (14-3-1, 8-1-1 SEC) to a scoreless draw through two overtime periods.

While head coach Ronnie Coveleskie Hill surely would have preferred a win and a chance to claim the SEC East regular season crown, at least her team has reset the conference record book. The Commodores earned their 13th team shutout of the season, one more than the school and SEC record. It was also the 11th shutout for junior goalkeeper Tyler Griffin (Charlotte, N.C.) who is now one shy of tying the single-season record set by Christy Barringer in 1994.

The tie ensures that Ole Miss can be seeded no worse than second in the SEC tournament which begins in just less than two weeks. Couple with Tennessee’s overtime win at Alabama, it also ensures that Tennessee wins the SEC East Title.

Going into the game it was apparent that it would be a defensive battle as both teams are among the nations best in shutout percentage. The contest lived up to those expectations the game went 110 minutes with no goals. The Commodores did have their chances however. Vanderbilt outshot Ole Miss 19-9 in the game, including a 13-1 advantage over the final 40 minutes of the game.

The defense did its part as it shut down the Ole Miss attack down the stretch. Griffin also recorded four saves in the game, good enough to move her into fourth place on the career saves list with 131. Griffin has played 1,588 minutes out of 1,640 possible minutes, and lowered her goals against average to 0.51.

The Commodores have only one game left on their regular season schedule, a home match against Kentucky Friday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC-TV by Fox Sports South, but will air via taped delay on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.