Commodores earn fourth straight win, defeats Saint Louis

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt defeated Saint Louis, 2-0, on Friday at Vanderbilt Soccer Complex to extend its winning streak to four games.

“Friday night games are always against good teams,” head coach Darren Ambrose said. “We made adjustments through the game. It was gutsy. We toughed it out. As the game went on we became more physical and started to think a step ahead, too.”

The victory was the second shutout of the season for the Dores (4-1) and also their fourth straight multi-goal game.

The scoring began in the 23rd minute with Haley Hopkins turning defense to offense and generating a breakaway for herself. She stole the ball from a Billiken defender at midfield and dribbled it the length of the field. From just inside the box, she launched a strike right through the goalie’s legs for her second goal of the season.

Hopkins has registered a goal or assist in four straight games.

“They pushed us really hard in the first 15 minutes,” Hopkins said. “We didn’t get a lot of chances. I think that goal came from a sudden burst of really good defense from the team as a whole.”

Kaylann Boyd scored for the second straight game to give her a team-high three goals on the year. In the 50thminute, Caroline Saltmarsh sent a cross deep in the box where Boyd intercepted it before the goalie could get her hands on it. After that, Boyd kicked it past a Billiken defender to make it 2-0.

The Commodores once again employed their two-goalie system. Lauren Demarchi recorded the start and the win, playing the first half and registering three saves. Taiana Tolleson came in at the start of the second half and registered one save on the evening.

Vanderbilt did a good job of limiting Saint Louis’s scoring chances, but its closest opportunity came in the 70thminute when a Billiken defender took a shot that deflected off Tolleson. Freshman Ella Shamburger hustled into the box, chased down the ball and kicked it away before it could land in the net.

Up next, the Commodores look to keep their win streak alive when North Alabama travels to the Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.