Second-half goal by Alabama sinks Commodores

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From start to finish on Sunday night, Vanderbilt soccer coach Derek Greene believed his team was the better squad in all phases on Sunday.

Unfortunately a play that lasted just seconds sunk the Commodores in a 1-0 loss to Alabama at the VU Soccer Complex. It was Vanderbilt’s first loss at home this year after starting with four wins and a tie.

Merel van Dongen’s corner kick was deflected and went right to Jordan Meier, who booted in a goal in the 61st minute. Vanderbilt outshot Alabama 25-19, with nine players taking shots. The Commodores (5-5-1, 0-2-1 SEC) also manufactured eight corner kicks. But Vanderbilt was held scoreless for the second straight game and is still searching for its first SEC win of the season.

“I’m really proud of the team,” Greene said. “My thoughts are it is the game of soccer and it really stinks for our kids right now. We should have won that game. We had no business losing it. Sometimes it happens like that. I’m just proud of the effort. They brought it for 90 minutes tonight. We were clearly the better team. Dominated every phase of the game – every phase. Unfortunately, the scoreboard was the main one that matters. And they stuck a set piece in. We told the team set pieces were going to be important. They’re dangerous on those and they live for them and certainly it cost us tonight.”

Sophomore Simone Charley led the Commodores with seven shots against Alabama (7-3-1, 2-1). Midfielder Lydia Simmons added five shots, with a team-high three on goal and freshman Colby Ciarrocca fired off four shots. The Commodores haven’t scored in more than 283 minutes. On Friday, they tied with Auburn in double overtime and their last goal came in the seventh minute against Georgia a week ago.

In goal, Christiana Ogunsami made eight saves, one shy of a career-high. The freshman goalkeeper and Vanderbilt’s stout back line defense hadn’t allowed a goal since the 86th minute of a loss to Georgia one week ago for a span of more than 174 minutes. The Commodores extended their SEC best streak to 11 games this season without allowing a first-half goal. They are the only team in the league who hasn’t given up goal in the first 45 minutes of play.

Vanderbilt now hits the road for two games, starting on Friday at Arkansas and wrapping up on Sunday at Missouri.