MADISON, Wisc. – The Vanderbilt women’s soccer team upset the 23rd-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in front of 700-plus Friday night at the McClimon Complex, by a score of 4-3. Cheyna Williams scored the game-winner for the Commodores in the 67th minute to seal the game, and hand the Badgers their first loss of the season. This was the Commodores’ first win against a ranked opponent since October 7, 2011.
“This was a really great college soccer game,” said VU head coach Derek Greene. “Wisconsin is a tremendous team and they play great in their system. I have to give the whole team credit, this was a gutsy win for us to beat a ranked opponent on the road. Looking at the scouting report we knew we could expose their back line, so we weren’t afraid to play the ball direct. As a result we scored three goals off breakaways. ”
Vanderbilt (2-2-1) got on the board first early in the first half when Jamie Kator converted on the penalty kick in the fourth minute of action. The Badgers (3-1-1) were able to pick up the equalizer in the 14th minute when McKenna Meuer scored from the six yard box off the corner kick.
The Commodores would retake the lead in the 21st minute when Kator sent a through ball to Williams 15 yards out. She picked up her first goal of the game on a slick finish past the keeper.
The Badgers knotted the game up, just before the half, at two when Kinley McNicoll sent the ball high to the near post from 25 yards out.
Wisconsin scored their third of the game six minutes out of the half on a Marisa Kresge goal.
“Rose Lavelle was giving us a lot of problems in the first 50 minutes,” Greene said. “She has such great speed that she was getting too much space and creating a lot of good chances for them. We decided to man mark her with Grace Stumb and Kendra Hendrix, and give those two a ton of credit, they shut her down.”
Two straight goals from Simone Charley (assisted by Andie Lakin) in the 65th minute and Williams (unassisted) in the 67th minute were enough as Vanderbilt held on for the final 13 minutes, allowing only one shot, to pick up the win.
“Cheyna was phenomenal tonight,” said Greene. “She was such a handful for the Wisconsin defense and she created so many opportunities for us.”
The Vanderbilt defense fought of 28 shots en route to the win. Freshman goalie Oliva Liebman saved five shots, and picked up her second win of the season.
“Our back line was fantastic tonight. Though the stat sheet shows a ton of shots, most of those were from 25-30 yards out,” Greene said. “We did a really good job giving their leading scorer Cara Wells trouble and ultimately not giving them many good looks.”
Vanderbilt will be back in action on Sunday, once again from the McClimon Complex, when they take on Milwaukee at noon.
