NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt soccer hosts crosstown rival Belmont on Thursday for the 2024 home opener. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex and will be shown on SEC Network+.
The Commodores are coming off a scoreless draw at No. 21/RV Georgetown in last Thursday’s season opener. Keeper Sara Wojdelko grabbed three saves in the match to register her fifth career shutout. Each team produced four shots on goal in the draw. After Georgetown held a 4-1 edge in shots on target in the first half, the Dores owned the better of the chances in the second half with a 3-0 advantage.
Vanderbilt landed seven players on the 2024 SEC Preseason Watchlist. Fifth-years Abi Brighton and Julianne Leskauskas, seniors Rachel Deresky and Addie Porter, junior Hannah McLaughlin and sophomores Ella Eggleston and Courtney Jones represent the Dores. The Commodores were also picked to finish ninth in the coaches’ poll.
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams in a series that Vanderbilt leads 3-0. Belmont has yet to score a goal against the Commodores.
Last season, the Dores topped the Bruins 2-0 with goals from Deresky and Eggleston. The Commodores commanded the game, marking possession in 76 percent of the game, and outshot Belmont 20-2.
Belmont enters the contest 1-1 this season, coming off a 2-1 victory over Middle Tennessee on Sunday. Middle Tennessee struck first in the 20th minute but the Bruins responded with a pair of goals from Reagan Ross and Kaitlyn Elliot in the second half to claim the victory. Keeper Amanda Waggoner grabbed five saves in the win.