No. 13/17 Vanderbilt at Texas
Friday, September 26 • 6 p.m. • SEC Network+
Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field • Austin, Texas
Series History
• Vanderbilt leads the all time 3-2 with the first game of the matchup coming in 1995 that resulted in a Commodore 3-1 victory
• The last time the two programs met, Texas was ranked No. 4 in the nation and took a 1-0 win in Austin
• Vandy is 1-1 when facing the Longhorns on the road
• This will be the first matchup against Texas under head coach Darren Ambrose
The Opponent
• Texas, who joined the SEC ahead of the 2024 season and won the 2024 SEC Tournament, enters the contest 2-7-1 this year, with their two wins coming over Long Beach State and College of Charleston
• Last time out, the Longhorns fell to Alabama, 3-4, despite Ava McDonald’s brace
Scouting Report
• Ava McDonald, who became the first freshman Longhorn to record multiple braces since 2021, leads the team with 12 points off six goals. She ranks in the top-10 in shots per game (sixth) and shots on goal per game (10th)
• Amalia Villarreal, who was named 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, has started all 10 matches this year scoring four goals and dishing two assists for 10 points
Last Time Out
• No. 17 Vanderbilt soccer earned its second top-25 victory of the season Sunday afternoon, blanking No. 24 Oklahoma 3–0 at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The win marks the first win against a ranked SEC opponent since taking down No. 24 South Carolina during the 2022 season. It also marks the largest win margin against a top-25 team since the program’s first-ever ranked win over No. 10 Virginia in 1998, which was a 4-0 victory
• After a scoreless first half, the Commodores (7-2-1, 1-1-1 SEC) erupted with three goals in the final 30 minutes. Freshman Ellett Smith opened the scoring in the 60th minute with her first career goal, assisted by Vivian Akyirem. Just two minutes later, Maci Teater doubled the lead, finishing a pass from Courtney Jones top of the box
• Vandy sealed the result in the 83rd minute when Sydney Watts netted her team-leading sixth goal of the year, assisted by Smith
• Vanderbilt dominated possession with 64 percent of the ball, out shot the Sooners 18–5, and held a 6–1 edge in corner kicks. Graduate goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko stopped both shots on target to earn her fifth shutout of the season and the 16th of her career
Cracked into Top-10
• In Vandy’s game at Arkansas, keeper Sara Wojdelko cracked into the program’s top-10 in all-time saves
1. 320, Rachel Bachtel (2007-10)
2. 262, Christy Barringer (1992-95)
3. 234, Lauren Korff (1990-93)
4. 224, Tyler Griffin (2004-06)
5. 208, Christiana Ogunsami (2014-16)
6. 166, Kate Devine (2020-25)
7. 160, Lauren Whitt (1998-02)
8. 148, Kaitlyn Fahrner (2016-17)
9. 130, Esther Thompson (2002-03)
10. 112, Sara Wojdelko (2022-present)
