Commodores land a first place finish at Music City Invite.
NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt defeated Ohio, 2-1, on Sunday to finish first at the Music City Invitational at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
“I was pleased with the way we came out,” head coach Darren Ambrose said. “I thought we possessed the ball really well and created a few chances. I thought we did really well.”
The game was delayed due to lightning in the area, but that didn’t slow the Dores (3-1) down at all. The Commodores struck first in the fourth minute when Haley Hopkins weaved through the defense and led Madison Elwell with a through ball on the left-hand side of the goalie box. Elwell struck a one-timer past the outstretched goalkeeper into the lower right-hand side of the goal for her second goal of the season.
Vanderbilt struck again in the 64th minute of the second half with Leila Azari earning her third assist of the season. Azari received a pass from Elwell and drove up the right side of the field. She turned and at the corner of the box, launched a pass into the middle of the box right to Kaylann Boyd. Boyd raised her leg and deflected it into the lower left side of the net for her second goal this season.
Ohio (1-2-1) would later add a goal in the 81st minute off a header from Alivia Milesky.
The Dores maintained possession for most of the game and outshot Ohio, 18-4, with nine of those shots registering on goal.
Lauren Demarchi got the start in goal for the Dores, and she only had to make one save in the first half to move to 2-0 on the season. Taiana Tolleson came in for her in the second half and recorded one save.
Vanderbilt finished the tournament with a perfect 2-0 mark. Miami finished second with a 1-1 record. Ohio took third place with an 0-1-1 record, and Lipscomb was fourth with the same record. Ohio managed one more goal than Lipscomb to finish third.
Four different Commodores were named to the All-Tournament team: Hopkins, Grace Jackson, Ella Shamburger and Olivia Simmons.
Hopkins finished the tournament with one assist and one goal, including the game-winner against Miami. Simmons led the tournament with two assists and both of those came in the game against Miami.
Shamburger started both games and provided a solid backbone for the team’s defense. She played all 180 minutes of the tournament. Jackson also started both games. She played all 90 minutes against Miami and then played 64 against Ohio.
All-Tournament Team
Justis Bailey – Lipscomb
Erin Beurket – Ohio
Bayleigh Chaviers – Miami
Kaitlin Echols – Lipscomb
Gudrun Haralz – Miami
Haley Hopkins – Vanderbilt
Grace Jackson – Vanderbilt
Rianna Reese – Ohio
Michelle Rockey – Ohio
Ella Shamburger – Vanderbilt
Olivia Simmons – Vanderbilt
Phallon Tullis-Joyce – Miami
