Dores down Georgia for 11th straight victory

NASHVILLE – The No. 25 Commodores extended their winning streak to 11 games after defeating Georgia, 5-0, on Sunday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. Vanderbilt’s 11-game winning streak matches the program’s total of 11 straight wins set back in 2005.

Vanderbilt (11-1, 4-0 SEC) stands as the only SEC team with a perfect conference record in 2018. The Dores hold sole possession of first place in the SEC with 12 points. This is also the best start in conference play for the Dores since the 2005 team started 5-0 in the SEC.

On Sunday, Vanderbilt came out surging from the opening kick. The Dores dominated possession and kicked off scoring in the 17th minute. Ella Shamburger secured her first assist of the year by launching a cross to midfield where Haley Hopkins headed it further downfield to Kaylann Boyd. Boyd outran the Georgia defenders and delivered a strike with her left foot for her seventh goal this season.

The Dores didn’t wait around much longer and struck again in the 20th minute, this time with Hopkins doing the scoring. Off a corner kick from Leila Azari, Hopkins received the ball and had her initial shot blocked by a Georgia defender. But Hopkins didn’t quit on the play, sending her rebound into net for another goal.

Hopkins recorded her second goal of the game off another set piece in the 27th minute. Madison Elwell sent the kick into the box, giving the keeper a chance to corral the ball.
But Hannon Eberts came flying in to knock it loose, allowing Hopkins to send the ball into an empty net for her team-leading ninth goal this season.
Hopkins also leads the team with three multi-goal games.

Elwell found herself on the scoring front off another set piece in the 38th minute. Eberts set the play up by drawing a foul outside the box, leading Elwell to attempt the free kick. Elwell launched a missile into the upper left-hand portion of the goal for her fourth goal this season.

The Dores led 4-0 at the half and wouldn’t score again until the 60th minute, when Madi Allen got her first-career goal off a corner kick assist from Elwell. Elwell took the corner and sent a cross into the box where Allen headed it out of reach of the goalkeeper.

Lauren Demarchi got the start in goal for the Dores, moving to a perfect 8-0 this season. She registered four saves throughout the game, including a save late in the second half that secured the shutout.

The Dores go for a program-record 12th straight victory when they face Mississippi State at home on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. CT. The game can be viewed on SEC Network+.