Sept. 15, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt soccer team got a much-needed week off following their final non-conference game against Lipscomb. The Dores have used this week to rest up and shift their focus to the start of SEC play this weekend.
The first conference contest comes on Sunday when the Commodores travel to LSU for a 4 pm tilt against the Tigers. Sunday’s match will be televised on the SEC Network.
Looking back on the non-conference slate of games, head coach Darren Ambrose saw some good results from the team but also noted there were areas that could be improved on.
“The non-conference was a mixed bag. We had some good games and good performances and then had some games where we had the better of the game but didn’t win,” said Ambrose. “We got a lot out of different players and we also went through a patch with a lot of injuries. It allowed us to get some players in that we didn’t know would have played. We got to know a lot more about some of our younger players and that was helpful.”
The Dores are coming off a weekend sweep against Western Kentucky on the road and Lipscomb at home.
Friday in Bowling Green, the Commodores were shorthanded due to injuries, which thrust a season-high five freshmen into the starting lineup. The freshmen would deliver as three of them combined for the lone goal of the game in the sixth minute. Madison Elwell sent a corner kick into the box where Rebecca Rossett got to the ball, sent it over to Olivia Simmons who would put it in the back of the net for the goal. For the remaining 84 minutes, the Commodore defense stood tall and secured the 1-0 win.
On Sunday, the Dores faced a halftime deficit of 1-0 and had yet to score a second half goal all season. That would change in the final 20 minutes against Lipscomb, as they would get three goals from Lydia Simmons, Stephanie Amack and Jackie Welch to come from behind and beat the Bisons 3-1.
Olivia Simmons would get the assist on the equalizer and go-ahead goal and she was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Tuesday for her performances against WKU and Lipscomb.
Scouting the Tigers:
LSU enters conference play with a 7-0-0 record on the season, which ties the school record for best start to a season. The Tigers are coming off a 1-0 win against No. 19 Cincinnati Thursday night. Through their first seven games, the Tigers have only conceded one goal and have recorded six clean sheets.
Midfielder Zoe Higgins and Alex Thomas leads the Tigers in goals with four on the year while freshman Tinaya Alexander holds the team lead in assists (7) and points (13). Caroline Brockmeier has played all 630 minutes in net for the Tigers. She has only given up one goal on the year, made 32 saves and holds a 0.14 goals against average.
The Commodores lead the all-time series 10-7-3 and won last year’s meeting between the two schools. The Dores picked up a 3-0 home win behind goals from Grace Jackson, Hannon Eberts and Cristina De Zeeuw. Kaitlyn Fahrner picked up her second-consecutive clean sheet in the win.