Sept. 10, 2009
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 25 Vanderbilt heads on the road for the first time this season, taking on Texas Tech and Missouri at the Auburn Soccer Classic this weekend in Auburn, Ala.
The Commodores went 5-0 in their season-opening home stand, marking the second straight year they have opened the season with an undefeated start through five games. Soccer America ranked them No. 25 after the hot start.
VU takes on Texas Tech on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and will face Missouri at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The game against the Tigers was originally scheduled for noon, but was moved up because of Missouri travel conflicts. Host Auburn will take on Missouri Friday at 7 p.m. and will then face Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
“Missouri and Texas Tech are two Big 12 teams that have done very well in their conference,” said head coach Ronnie Woodard. “Both teams are ranked regionally and the games will be two big challenges for us this week.”
The Red Raiders are 3-2 on the year after beating then No. 26 TCU, 4-3 in double overtime, last Friday and losing a 2-1 overtime match to North Texas on Sunday. They are averaging 3.20 goals per game, while allowing 2.20 per contest. Freshman midfielder Dawn Ward leads the team with five goals, while sophomore midfielder Taylor Lytle has been the top table setter with six assists along with two goals (10 points). Freshman goalkeeper Erin Wikelius (2-1-0) has seen most of the action in net, recording a 1.87 goals against average with 15 saves.
Tech is ranked No. 10 in the Central Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Vanderbilt defeated Texas Tech 1-0 in the only previous meeting on Sept. 2, 2007.
The Tigers enter the weekend with a 3-2 record after beating Rhode Island, 7-1, last Friday and then losing to Long Beach State, 4-1, on Sunday. Senior forward Kristin Andrighetto, a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, leads the team in scoring with three goals. Senior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore sports a 1.70 goals against average with 20 saves on the year.
Missouri is ranked No. 25 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer and No. 8 in the Central Region by the NSCAA. This will be the third time the teams have faced each other.
The teams tied 2-2 on Aug. 18, 2006, in the first ever meeting between the schools and Missouri shut out the Dores 3-0 last season in Columbia.
The Commodores enter the weekend with the SEC’s best record and have scored at least two goals in every game this year. Junior midfielder Molly Kinsella and freshman midfielder Chelsea Stewart received weekly honors after helping lead the Commodores to wins over Belmont and Oklahoma last weekend.
VU leads the lead in scoring with 14 goals and 8.2 points per game. Kinsella is second in the league in scoring with 10 points and first in the conference with four assists.
“We are going in confident, but not cocky,” said Woodard. “We know we have to work hard, play well, pay attention to the details and play our game to be successful.”