NASHVILLE – Freshmen Simone Charley and Sasha Gray combined to score three goals Sunday in Vanderbilt’s lone exhibition game of the 2013 preseason, though the Commodores dropped a 4-3 decision to visiting Louisville.
The Commodores were just five days into fall practice with a squad that includes 18 freshmen and sophomores, but Head Coach Derek Greene praised the entire team’s second-half effort to come back from a 4-1 deficit. Despite the heat and humidity in Nashville, the game was played in front of a large crowd that included many who had enjoyed “Dore Jam,” Vanderbilt’s annual fan day, at the neighboring John Rich Practice Facility.
Charley scored Vanderbilt’s first goal in the 30th minute of the game. She collected a deflection near the left corner of the 18-yard box, and after a couple of dribbles fired a rocket high inside the near post. Louisville’s goalkeeper deflected the shot but could not keep it out.
In the second stanza, Gray got on the board in the 57th minute. She took the ball from near midfield and sprinted toward goal past her defender. After beating the keeper to a long touch near the top of the box, Gray’s finish was elementary.
Charley brought the Commodores to within a goal just seven minutes later. Her slashing run was rewarded by a diagonal pass from sophomore Jamie Kator, and Charley’s low shot beat U of L’s keeper to the far post.
Vanderbilt will have 11 more days before it opens the 2013 regular season on Friday, Aug. 23 when UAB visits Nashville for a 7 p.m. CT game at the VU Soccer Complex.
