MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Colby Ciarrocca continued her magnificent play Sunday at Memphis, helping lead Vanderbilt to a 2-1 victory and its second win in a row.
After coming off the bench to score two goals Friday, including the game-winner, to lift the Commodores’ to a 3-2 overtime win against Cincinnati, the freshman did it again Sunday.
The Montgomery, N.J., native scored the first two goals of the game against Memphis to lead the Commodores (3-1) to their first road win of the season, while handing the Lady Tigers (1-1-1) their first defeat. The two goals by Ciarrocca were the only of the game for the Commodores, but they had a pair of near misses, hitting the crossbar and post on two second-half shots by Lydia Simmons and Andie Lakin, respectively.
“It was a gritty performance,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Greene said. “We knew going in that Memphis was a very good, hardworking team with really good players. We were very confident going into the game.
“One concern we had was that they had Friday night off and didn’t play, so that was a concern in how we would finish the game. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort, determination and heart that we showed to fight for this win on the road against a really good team.”
Ciarrocca scored on her only two shot attempts, the first coming at the 17:45 mark and the second at 30:38. She was unassisted on her first goal and was setup by Simone Charley on her second as Ciarrocca buried a shot into the left side of the net.
“We are just so proud of Colby,” Greene said. “She absolutely deserves this. She was our fittest player in preseason this year and it has just taken a little time to get her confidence up at this collegiate level. I’m just so proud of her and I know her teammates are. She’s such a humble kid and I’m just so happy that her hard work is paying off.”
Ciarrocca replaced fellow freshman Cristina De Zeeuw at the 14:29 mark.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s defense was rock solid behind another good game by freshman goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami. She made five saves to earn her third win in net.
The Tigers’ only goal came at the 65:34 mark by Valerie Sanderson, who was assisted by Kaitlyn Atkins.
Both teams had 10 shots. The Commodores had three shots in the first half and seven in the second. Sasha Gray led Vanderbilt with three shots.
“I think this is huge for us,” Greene remarked. “We beat Memphis last year and went on to struggle through the year. I think this year is different. I think this team is a family, I think they believe in each other. We’ve got great leadership on the field, so our confidence is high. But it doesn’t get any easier.”
Vanderbilt will continue its season with a two-game road trip to the Lone Star State Friday and Sunday. The Commodores will play at Rice on Sept. 5 and at North Texas at 1 p.m. Sept. 7.
“We go to Rice and North Texas and those are going to be two tough games,” Greene added, “but certainly when you can learn how to win, it makes a difference in your players and in their mindset, and I think that is huge going forward.”
