Nonconference Conclusion

No. 3/2 Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee Tech, Xavier

Two soccer players compete for the ball on a sunny field, with one in a white and gold uniform and another in blue and red.Two soccer players compete for the ball on a sunny field, with one in a white and gold uniform and another in blue and red.
Kevin M. Cox

No. 3/2 Vanderbilt (5-0) vs. Tennessee Tech (2-1-2)
Thursday, Sept. 3 • 7 p.m. CT

Vanderbilt Soccer Complex • Nashville, Tenn.

ESPN+ • Live Stats • Game Notes

No. 3/2 Vanderbilt (5-0) vs. Xavier (2-1)
Sunday, Sept. 6 • 6 p.m. CT

Vanderbilt Soccer Complex • Nashville, Tenn.

ESPN+ • Live Stats • Game Notes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 3/2 Vanderbilt is back home to begin the final week of nonconference play, hosting Tennessee Tech on Thursday night.

The undefeated Dores won two games in Houston last week and will host Xavier on Sunday at 6 p.m. before the SEC slate commences.

The Opponents 

  • Tennessee Tech is 2-1-2 through five games after playing Kennesaw State to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon.
  • The Golden Eagles have only left Tennessee once so far, losing at North Alabama on Aug. 23, and will not do so again until Oct. 1.  
  • It’s the first year in the SoCon for the 2025 OVC Tournament champions. 
  • With Xavier off in the mid-week, they will be just 2-1 on the year entering Sunday while the Dores have six games under their belt.
  • They lost to No. 8 Michigan State on opening night and have since churned out wins over Miami (Ohio) and Indiana. They were trailing Michigan 6-0 before the weather turned it into a no contest. 
  • The Musketeers won the 2025 Big East Tournament but lost head coach Dean Ward to Iowa and star forward Sam Erbach to Florida State. 

 

Scouting Report: Tennessee Tech 

  • The Golden Eagles defense has kept clean sheets in four of five games, ranking 28th in the nation with a goals-against average of 0.40. 
  • Despite this, their goal differential is 0 due to only scoring two goals so far, through Tori Soutuyo and Halee Bibee. 

Scouting Report: Xavier 

  • Xavier ranks 45th nationally with 2.33 assists per game, with seven different players contributing one assist.
  • Taylor Thomas is likely to get the start in net after playing all 90 in the win over Indiana.

Off and Running 

  • Vanderbilt’s 3.75 goals per game rank 17th in the country and fourth in the SEC. Their 11.0 points per game rank 20th in the nation and fourth in the conference. 
  • They are one of 16 programs without a loss or draw in 2026.
  • Dating back to the 2025 regular season, where they won the final six games, the Dores have won 11 straight regular season contests.

Sydney’s Scoring Surge 

  •  Even by her lofty standards, senior forward Sydney Watts is on a production heater to start 2026. 
  • With six goals and three assists in the opening five games, the All-American ranks fifth in points per game (3.0)
  • Following her sixth career brace against Houston on Aug. 30, she ranks fourth in program history and sixth among active D-I players with 31 goals.

Starting Strong 

  • Vanderbilt is looking to start 6-0 for the first time since 2019, when they began a championship season with a program record seven straight wins.
  • They have started 6-0 or better three times in history: 1998, 2009 and 2019.

Best of the Best 

  • The win over Memphis on Aug. 21 was the ninth win in 12top-25battle 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.