Texas Two-Step

No. 3 Commodores play two-match road spell against Rice, Houston

A soccer player in a white and gold uniform controls the ball while being pursued by two opponents in dark uniforms during a match.A soccer player in a white and gold uniform controls the ball while being pursued by two opponents in dark uniforms during a match.

No. 3 Vanderbilt (3-0) at Rice (1-1-2)
Thursday, Aug. 27 • 6 p.m. CT

Holloway Field • Houston, Texas

ESPN+ • Live Stats • Game Notes

No. 3 Vanderbilt (3-0) at Houston (2-0-1)
Sunday, Aug. 30 • 12 p.m. CT

Carl Lewis International Complex • Houston, Texas

ESPN+ • Live Stats • Game Notes

HOUSTON -- No. 3 Vanderbilt soccer embarks on its first road trip of the 2026 season, heading to Houston to battle Rice on Thursday at 6 p.m. before taking on the University of Houston on Sunday at noon.

The Opponents

  • The Owls are also used to playing at home so far this season; it will be the fourth game of five at Holloway Field to start the year.
  • The American Conference Tournament runners-up are 1-1-2, their one loss coming to Texas A&M on opening night at home. 

 

  • Houston is unbeaten headed into Thursday’s contests; they will take on Abilene Christian in Abilene on Thursday night.
  • After drawing at FGCU on opening night, the Cougars have beaten Tarleton State and Northwestern State by a combined score of 9-1. 

Scouting Report: Rice

  • Despite the one win in four games, Rice holds a +2 goal differential thanks to a 3-0 win at Navy in game two.
  • Senior Lauren Pickup leads the team with a pair of goals, already doubling her career tally.
  • The Owls are tied for eighth in the country with 9.5 corners per game (Vanderbilt is tied for 23rd with 8.0).

Scouting Report: Houston

  • The Cougar attack has been one of the strongest in the nation through three games: they rank 12th nationally in shots on goal per game (10.0) and 25th in goals per game (3.0).
  • Junior transfer Skylar Miller, who played all 19 games last season at Tennessee, leads the way with two goals and an assist.
  • Stephen F. Austin transfer and 2025 Southland Goalkeeper of the Year Sierra McCluer has played a majority of minutes in net, making eight saves while not allowing a goal in 237 minutes played.

Off and Running

  • Vanderbilt’s 4.0 goals per game rank 10th in the country and third in the SEC.
  • It’s the first time that they have scored four-plus goals in three consecutive matches since 1998, a team that won the first NCAA Tournament match in school history.

Best of the Best

  • The win over Memphis on August 21 was the ninth win in 12 top-25 battle Vanderbilt has played since the 2025 season.
  • The Dores went 4-2 in top-25 regular season battles in 2025, won three more en route to the SEC Tournament title and went 2-1 against ranked competition in the NCAA Tournament.
  • At home, they are 7-1 in top-25 matchups.

Starting Strong

  • Vanderbilt is looking to start 4-0 for the first time since 2019, when they began a championship season with a program record seven straight wins.
  • They have started 4-0 or better six times in history: 1994, 1995, 1998, 2008, 2009 and 2019.

Protecting The Plex

  • The Dores went 11-1-1 at home last season and 3-0 at home in 2025.
  • Since 2022, they are 36-5-8 at home.