Sept. 17, 2009
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Vanderbilt soccer closes out its non-conference schedule on Friday against Tennessee-Martin at 7 p.m. at the VU Soccer Complex.
The Commodores are 5-1-1 on the year after losing to Texas Tech and tying Missouri last weekend at the Auburn Soccer Classic.
The Skyhawks are 3-3 overall after posting home wins over Missouri-Kansas City, 3-0, and Southern Miss, 2-1, last weekend. They have eight starters returning from last year’s squad that advanced to its first ever Ohio Valley Conference championship appearance. That team tied or broke 12 school records, including most victories in a season (10) and highest season winning percentage (.632).
UTM has a total of eight goals this year, scored by eight different players. Freshman goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler has seen the majority of the action in net and sports a 0.86 goals against average with 12 saves and one shutout.
Two freshmen scored their first collegiate goals for the Dores last weekend in Auburn. Dana Schwartz scored against Texas Tech and Margaux Andrews scored against Missouri. Junior Molly Kinsella assisted on both goals and leads the team in scoring with three goals and six assists (12 points). The six assists is the fifth best total in the nation entering this weekend’s play.
Vanderbilt was ranked No. 25 last week by Soccer America, but fell out of the poll on Monday. The Commodores are ranked ninth in the South region this week by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Friday’s match will be the first ever between the schools on the soccer pitch.
After the contest against UT Martin, Vanderbilt will open Southeastern Conference play on the road against Top 15 opponents (NSCAA rankings) South Carolina and Florida. The No. 13 Gamecocks are undefeated at 6-0-0 entering this weekend’s play with home matches against Central Florida and South Alabama, while the No. 7 Gators (5-2-0) host Florida State and Eastern Kentucky.