LEXINGTON, Ky. – Vanderbilt’s Raegan Kelley notched her second overtime game-winner of the season with a 1-0 victory over Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at The Bell.
The Commodores (12-4-1, 5-3-1) played their second straight overtime game and have gone to overtime in three of their last four. The Dores have a 3-2-1 overtime record for 2019 after their win over Kentucky (6-9-3, 1-7-1).
“I was pleased with our first 45 minutes, and we created several excellent chances,” head coach Darren Ambrose said. “The second half became more of a typical Sunday SEC game with a lot of tired legs on both teams. I was proud of how we stuck together and found a way to get a result that we needed.”
Vanderbilt concludes the regular season this Thursday at Alabama at 7:30 p.m. CT.
After threatening for much of the much of the second half, the Commodores finally found the back of the net in the 94th minute. Maddie Elwell took the eighth corner of the game for Vanderbilt and her cross was deflected off a Kentucky defender.
Kelley beat Kentucky’s goalkeeper to the ball with a header that bounced at the goal line and into the back of the net to send the Dores home with a win.
Elwell and Olivia Simmons were credited with assists on the goal, the second straight game the two of them have recorded assists. Elwell leads the Commodores with nine assists and Simmons is sitting at second with four.
Kelley last scored on Sept. 8 against Marshall, when she notched two goals. Her second goal of that game came in the 109th minute. The sophomore has three game-winners in her career.
Goalkeepers Lauren Demarchi and Taiana Tolleson combined for Vanderbilt’s 10th shutout, tying last season’s mark for third-most in program history.
The Commodore duo has shutout four SEC teams this season and have only allowed nine goals.
“I am also extremely proud of how we responded after a tough OT loss on Thursday,” Ambrose said. “It showed tremendous character.”
