No. 19 Vanderbilt Earns Third SEC Shutout

No. 19 Vanderbilt Earns Third SEC Shutout

9/30/2005

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Auburn, Ala. — The Vanderbilt women’s soccer team recorded its ninth shutout of the season and tied the school record for best start ever with its tenth straight win. The No. 19 Commodores (10-1, 3-0 SEC) defeated Southeastern Conference foe Auburn (2-7-1, 1-2-0 SEC) 1-0 with a goal in the 75th minute by sophomore forward Sarah Dennis (Germantown, Tenn.) and another clutch performance by Vanderbilt defense and junior goalkeeper Tyler Griffin (Charlotte, N.C.).

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“Kim Perkins, Monica Buff and Tyler once again solidified our defense,” said head coach Ronnie Coveleskie Hill. “With the addition of Amy Wilcox and Lauren Mitchell we’re so solid defensively that we can keep taking chances in the offensive third.”

The only other time a Commodore team has had a 10-1 record after 11games was in the 1994 season that saw the Commodores win the SEC title and the SEC Tournament title. The 2005 squad has a chance to top that mark with a win or tie in the team’s next game against Alabama.

Junior Kim Perkins (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who last week was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and included on the Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America National Teams of the Week, found Dennis in the center of the box 15 yards out to earn an assist when Dennis pelted the ball into the top, right corner of the goal. It was the first assist for Perkins and Dennis’ fourth goal of the season.

“Sarah Dennis scored a fantastic goal — a world class goal,” Hill said. “She took a player on and finished with an absolutely incredible shot.”

While Vanderbilt edged its opponent in shots once again, by a count of 15-5, the first half was closely contested as the Commodores fired five shots to Auburn’s four. In the second half, Vanderbilt was able to put more pressure on the Tiger defense, out-shooting the Tigers 10-1.

Griffin moved to seventh place in school history by recording three saves in the contest. She now has 104 for her career and is only behind Mandy Blevins (105) and Stacee Sproul (108) for fifth place all time. Griffin also earned her seventh shutout of the season and tenth of her career to move into third place in VU history in that category. After setting a new school record with 515 consecutive scoreless minutes before allowing a goal to Samford in a 2-1 victory, she has now gone more than 334 minutes without allowing a goal.

While the defense held on for its ninth outing without allowing a goal, it was somewhat bothered by injuries. Junior defender Kari Boersma (Littleton, Colo.), who was bothered by her ankle during practice this week, came out after only 26 minutes in this contest and replaced by senior defender Ashley Duffy (Ashburn, Vir.), who was coming back from her own injury. Boersma did not re-enter the game, however she said she would be ready to play again in Sunday’s match against Alabama. The defense was boosted by senior Lauren Mitchell (Millersville, Md.) and freshman Amy Wilcox (Arlington, Vir.).

“I’m extremely impressed with our depth,” Hill said. “In the SEC the turnaround from Friday to Sunday is so short that we have got to be able play a lot of players. We’re unfortunate that we’re a little banged up right now, but we’re fortunate enough that we can take someone off the bench and not miss a beat.”

The Crimson Tide (6-2-2, 0-1-2 SEC) fought to a draw at home against Kentucky (5-0-6, 1-0-2). The Commodores head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to face Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m.