NASHVILLE – The celebration that rang out from the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex on Sunday was the first of its kind in a quarter-century.
When the clock hit zero between Vanderbilt and Kentucky, a host of screaming Commodore players rushed the field and formed a dogpile. Staffers passed out T-shirts and hats embossed with the words “SEC Champions,” all while a packed crowd of Vanderbilt fans, parents, and former players cheered loudly, some in tears.
Moments later, in the midst of an interview with SEC Network, Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose found himself doused by a half-dozen full Gatorade bottles. Ambrose’s beaming players were understandably undeterred by the chilly temperatures Sunday on West End. The program’s win over Kentucky clinched the SEC regular-season championship for No. 12 Vanderbilt, something the Commodores hadn’t accomplished since 1994. The Dores improved to 15-1-1 (8-0-1 SEC), extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games and secured the No. 1 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament.
The significance of the moment was nearly overwhelming for Ambrose, who visibly fought back emotions on Sunday.
“I’m actually speechless,” Ambrose said. “This group of kids is so special. Winning obviously highlights that; everyone pays attention to them. But the reason they won is the relationships they have between them. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
SEC Champs!!! Vanderbilt takes down Kentucky, 4-1, to win the SEC regular season championship for the first time since 1994!! #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/LCrS0IrarL
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@Vandysocr) October 21, 2018
Against Kentucky, Vanderbilt struck early with a goal in the sixth minute from junior Grace Jackson, who drilled a shot into the top-right corner of the net off an assist from Haley Hopkins. In the 20th minute, junior Kaylann Boyd added to the Commodores’ advantage with a goal into the center of the net off yet another dish from Hopkins. The Dores took their 2-0 lead into the half enjoying an 8-5 shots advantage in the first 45 minutes.
Kentucky, however, wasn’t finished. The Wildcats cut their deficit to 2-1 on a long Gretchen Mills goal in the 51st minute. But three minutes later, a Hopkins header deflected off a Kentucky defender and into Vanderbilt’s goal for an own-goal and a 3-1 Commodore lead. Hopkins then put the game out of reach with a breakaway goal in the 83rd minute to make it 4-1.
Such a response has become a theme of Vanderbilt’s stellar season, Ambrose said.
“That’s what they’ve done all year,” Ambrose said. “When anyone has asked a question of them, or anybody has challenged them, they find another gear. I’ll tell you, that doesn’t come from the sidelines. That comes from them.”
Sunday’s scene at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex was the culmination of a long journey for the Vanderbilt program. Ambrose spearheaded a massive culture change when he accepted the Commodores’ job ahead of the 2015 season. Revamped expectations tested his roster’s mettle, but the Dores eventually showed progress. In 2017, the program reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. This fall, the Dores finished unbeaten at home, with the likes of Boyd, Hopkins and goalkeeper Lauren Demarchi ranking among the SEC leaders in stats.
Senior captain Gabby Rademaker, who has witnessed Vanderbilt evolution under Ambrose, said an SEC title was all part of the plan.
“I wouldn’t say it was a dream — more of a goal that we talk about,” Rademaker said. “We’ve been working too hard toward this everyday. We always knew it was a possibility. I don’t cry much, and I bawled like a little baby [today]. Everyone is so passionate and has so much heart for this team. We’ve worked so hard, so it’s hard not to get emotional. It’s not luck, it’s hard work, and that’s what we did.”
The Commodores can put a bow on their historic regular season on Thursday at Ole Miss (6 p.m. CT SEC Network+). Then, it’s on to the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., where the Dores will vie for more hardware ahead of another trip to the NCAA Tournament. That road ahead is why Rademaker and other Commodore veterans kept younger teammates from throwing up a “No. 1” symbol in team pictures on Sunday.
“We were like, ‘No, we’re not done yet. Don’t put up the 1, that’s too early,'” Rademaker said. “As you can tell, we’re not finished here, and we want even more. This was showing people it’s not luck. The next thing is going to show us that we’re actually great and tell everyone else what Vandy soccer is.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
