NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Commodore women’s soccer team closed its 2011 non-conference schedule with a 2-0 victory over visiting Samford Sunday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
Goals by junior Dana Schwartz and freshman Gena Inbusch were the difference for the Commodores, who improve to 6-2 on the year with the win. Vanderbilt opens Southeastern Conference play next weekend on the road to Alabama and Auburn.
Vanderbilt outshot Samford, 5-1, in the scoreless first half. Bulldog goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead made two of her five saves in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 75th minute the Commodores finally broke through. Sophomore Duggan Hahn played a ball to Schwartz at the top of the box and the Nashville native turned to her left foot to beat the Samford keeper inside the near post.
Junior goalkeeper Jessica Amlaw made two saves to her first shutout for Vanderbilt. In the 79th minute, Amlaw made a wonderful diving stop on a powerful near post shot by Samford’s Amanda Abbott to preserve VU’s 1-0 lead.
Vanderbilt would ice the game with a second goal in the 87th minute. Inbusch and senior Candace West combined on a one-two and the freshman coolly finished past the Bulldog keeper for a 2-0 lead.
The Commodores will open SEC play with four straight road contests before returning home to host a “Power in Pink” game against LSU on Friday, Oct. 7.
