Sept. 25, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Vanderbilt Hits Road to Open SEC Play at No. 12 South Carolina and No. 10 Florida
Vanderbilt will take on its first pair of ranked opponents this weekend as it opens Southeastern Conference play at No. 12 South Carolina on Friday before traveling to Gainesville, Fla. to play the 10th-ranked Gators on Sunday. Both games this weekend will be televised. Friday night’s game with USC will be aired on Fox Sports South as Andy Demetra (pxp) and Katie Witham (color) will call the action. Sunday’s game with UF will be aired on CSS as Bernie Guenther (pxp) and Cameron Broome (color) will call the game.
Polls (NSCAA-â€Ë†National Soccer Coaches Association) (ST- Soccer Times) (SA- Soccer America) (TD- Top Drawer Soccer)
South Carolina is ranked No. 12 by the NSCAA; 13th by Soccer Times; 11th by Soccer America; 18th by Top Drawer.
Florida is ranked No. 10 by the NSCAA; 11th by Soccer Times; 24th by Soccer America; 15th by Top Drawer.
Vanderbilt is not ranked in the national polls. VU is ranked No. 8 in the NSCAA South Regional Rankings
Series History (South Carolina)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series with South Carolina 13-1-2. The Commodores won last year’s meeting 2-1 over USC. VU has won two straight over USC and is 6-1 against the Gamecocks in Colubmia, S.C. Vanderbilt won the first meeting between the two programs by a score of 3-0 in Nashville in 1995.
All-Time Results (USC vs. Vanderbilt)
October 5, 2008 Vanderbilt 3, South Carolina 0 Nashville
October 7, 2007 Vanderbilt 1, South Carolina 0 (OT) Columbia
November 1, 2006* Vanderbilt 1, South Carolina 1 (OT) SEC Tourney
October 8, 2006 Vanderbilt 3, South Carolina 0 Nashville
October 7, 2005 Vanderbilt 2, South Carolina 0 Columbia
October 8, 2004 Vanderbilt 1, South Carolina 1 (OT) Nashville
October 17, 2003 Vanderbilt 1, South Carolina 0 Columbia
October 6, 2002 Vanderbilt 2, South Carolina 0 Nashville
October 7, 2001 Vanderbilt 1, South Carolina 0 Columbia
October 6, 2000 Vanderbilt 8, South Carolina 0 Nashville
November 4, 1999* Vanderbilt 2, South Carolina 1 (OT) SEC Tourney
September 10, 1999 South Carolina 1, Vanderbilt 0 Columbia
September 27, 1998 Vanderbilt 4, South Carolina 0 Nashville
September 12, 1997 Vanderbilt 4, South Carolina 2 Columbia
September 13, 1996 Vanderbilt 8, South Carolina 5 (OT) Columbia
September 8, 1995 Vanderbilt 3, South Carolina 0 Nashville
* at SECâ€Ë†Tournament.
Series History (Florida)
Florida leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt 17-2-1. The Gators edged the Commodores in overtime last season, winning 4-3 in Nashville. VU’s last win against the Gators in Gainesville came in 1997. The Commodores won the first two of three meeetings between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1995.
All-Time Results (Florida vs. Vanderbilt)
October 3, 2008 Florida 4, Vanderbilt 3 (OT) Nashville
November 4, 2007 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 0 Gainesville
October 6, 2006 Florida 1, Vanderbilt 0 Nashville
October 9, 2005 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 0 Gainesville
October 10, 2004 Vanderbilt 1, Florida 1 (2OT) Nashville
November 6, 2003* Florida 3, Vanderbilt 1 SEC Tourney
October 19, 2003 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 1 Gainesville
October 4, 2002 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 0 Nashville
November 8, 2001* Florida 4, Vanderbilt 0 SEC Tourney
October 5, 2001 Florida 4, Vanderbilt 0 Gainesville
October 8, 2000 Florida 1, Vanderbilt 0 Nashville
September 12, 1999 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 1 Gainesville
September 25, 1998 Florida 2, Vanderbilt 1 Nashville
September 14, 1997 Vanderbilt 2, Florida 0 Gainesville
September 15, 1996 Florida 3, Vanderbilt 0 Nashville
September 10, 1995 Vanderbilt 2, Florida 0 Nashville
* at SECâ€Ë†Tournament.
The Coaches
VU’s Ronnie Woodard is 89-80-29 in her ninth season as the Vanderbilt head coach and is 74-59-26 in eight seasons in Nashville. She is 7-0-2 against South Carolina.
South Carolina’s Shelley Smith is in her ninth season at USC and is 89-62-22 in nine years in Columbia. Smith is 0-7-2 against Vanderbilt.
Florida’s Becky Burleigh is in her 15th season as the head coach for Florida and she is 254-67-21 at Florida and 336-90-27 in 19 years of collegiate coaching.
Live Stats/TV
Check www.vucommodores.com for live stats and updated information on the Vanderbilt Soccer team throughout the season. Friday’s game is televised by Fox Sports South while Sunday’s game will be on CSS.
Home Games Webcasts
A majority of Vanderbilt’s home soccer games will be webcasted on Vanderbilt’s official athletic website, www.vucommodores.com. Travis Young will call the play-by-play action all season long while the award winning Jeff Miller will provide color analysis.
Strong Start to 2009 Season
Vanderbilt starts the season 6-1-1 for the second consecutive season. The 6-1-1 mark is the best start to the season under Head Coach Ronnie Woodard since the ‘Dores started the 2005 season 11-1.
Woodard Family welcomes new addition to Vanderbilt Soccer Family
Head Coach Ronnie Woodard gave birth to Thomas Woodard IV on August 29, 2009. Coach Woodard coached the Commodores to a victory on Friday, the 28th and than gave birth the following day. Woodard returned to the sideline four days after giving birth to her first child.
Vanderbilt enters the Top-25 Ranking for first time since 2006
Team enters Soccer America Top-25 poll for the first time in three years (2006). VU came in at No. 25 in the Sept. 8 Soccer America poll.
Kinsella leads the SEC in points and assists
Molly Kinsella named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8 after accounting two goals and three assists in wins over Oklahoma and Belmont. The first-team All-SEC perfomer leads the SEC in points (15) and assists (7). Kinsella seven assists ranks fourth nationally.
Stewart and Lukens earn Individual plaudits
Chelsea Stewart and Nicole Lukens were named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week during non-conference season. Stewart earned honors on Sept. 8 after scoring the game winning goals against Oklahoma and Belmont while Lukens was named to the Sept. 21 National Team of the Week after scoring two goals and adding an assist in a 3-0 win over UT-Martin on Sept. 18.
Freshman class making immediate impact
Vanderbilt’s most recent recruiting class is already paying dividends on the field in 2009 as all seven of Vanderbilt’s true freshman have made an immediate impact to the program. Midfielders Chelsea Stewart, CJ Rhoades, and Margaux Andrews have started a combined 23 of 24 games this season while Amanda Essay has started all eight games at defense.
Trio Lead Offensive Attack
Lukens, Stewart and Molly Kinsella lead offensive attack for the Commodores during the non-conference season. Lukens leads the team in goals with five; Molly Kinsella leads the team in points with 15, (four goals, seven assist) and Chelsea Stewart is third on the team in points with seven (three goals, one assist).
Freshman Stewart Takes Game Overseas; Beijing Summer Olympics
Freshman Chelsea Stewart spent the 2008-09 season competing for the Canadian National U-20 Team at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The Highlands Ranch, Colo. had 17 caps and two goals for the Canadians while participating in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. She won a gold medal at the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships in Puebla, Mexico.
‘Dores Picked Fifth in SEC East in Preseason Poll
Vanderbilt was picked to finish in fifth place in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Confernece Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Florida was picked as the favorite to claim the 2009 SEC women’s soccer title after winning it in 2008.