Oct. 11, 2007
No. 20 Georgia at Vanderbilt – Friday at 7 p.m. CT
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No. 14 Tennessee at Vanderbilt – Sunday at 1 p.m. CT
TV: FSN |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt soccer opens up a four-game home stand this weekend against No. 20 Georgia on Friday and No. 14 Tennessee on Sunday.
The Commodores will take on the Southeastern Conference leading Bulldogs (10-1-1, 3-0-1 SEC) on Friday at 7 p.m. at the VU Soccer Complex. Sunday’s game against the Lady Vols (7-2-2, 2-1-1 SEC) is set for a 1 p.m. start and will be televised Fox Sports South.
Vanderbilt is 4-5-1 on the year and 1-1-1 in conference play after upsetting then No. 20 South Carolina 1-0 in double overtime last Sunday in Columbia, S.C. Forward Molly Kinsella was named SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring the golden goal off an assist from Amy Wilcox with nine seconds left in the final overtime period.
No. 20 (National Soccer Coaches Association Poll) Georgia is off to its best start in school history and and carries a seven-game unbeaten streak into Friday night’s game. Sophomore Carrie Patterson and freshman Caroline Simpson lead the team in scoring with five goals and three assists each (13 points). Sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Betos has recorded four shutouts while sporting a 0.58 goals against average in leading a defense that has not allowed more than one goal in any contest this year.
Vanderbilt has a 9-5 all-time series lead over Georgia and has won the last two meetings including a 2-1 overtime decision last year in Athens.
No. 14 (NSCAA Poll) Tennessee is in second place in the SEC East behind the Bulldogs and are 4-0-1 against Top 25 teams this year. Junior Kylee Rossi leads the team with four goals and three assists (11 points) with sophomore Mick Imgram and senior Emily Redberg right behind with three goals and three assists (nine points). Junior Jaimel Johnson has been solid in goal with five shutouts and a 0.86 goals against average.
Vanderbilt owns a 7-5-2 series lead, but the Lady Vols won the last meeting 2-1 in overtime a year ago in Knoxville.
“Both Georgia and Tennessee have great athletes, both are filled with very technical players, both are really well coached, and both are going to give us a really big challenge,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie. “In order for us to get wins this weekend, we have to bring our “A” game no matter what we do.”