Simmons' goal lifts Ambrose to 150th career win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Fittingly, Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose’s 150th career victory came against a foe from the league where he accumulated a huge chunk of those wins.

Sophomore midfielder Lydia Simmons scored her first career goal in the 41st minute to lift Vanderbilt to a 1-0 victory over Dartmouth on Friday night at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. It was win No. 150 for Ambrose, who compiled 148 wins when he was at Penn the last 15 years and competing against Dartmouth and the rest of the Ivy League. More than a third of his victories (55) have come against Ivy League foes.

“It is one more than 149,” Ambrose said, downplaying the feat before admitting “I guess deep down (it is significant). All it does is make me think back to how many wonderful moments I’ve had like this. Whether it was No. 10 or No. 58, it just makes you realize what great people you’re around. You remember things like this because of the people that we’re on the field and the people who were next to you. That is why those milestones mean something. Not necessarily I have been doing this a long time or it is about me. The people I have been able to share my career with, that is more meaningful to me.”

Though he was the all-time winningest coach at Penn, Ambrose picked up just his second win as Vanderbilt’s head coach and first at home with Friday night’s win over Dartmouth (1-1). On Thursday night after practice, Ambrose told his team it would mean a lot to beat Dartmouth because of his time in the Ivy League. The Commodores (2-3) responded with arguably their most complete effort of the season to boost their coach to the milestone victory.

“For me, personally, this one time I allowed myself a little bit of, ‘I’d like to see us get this one,'” Ambrose said with a grin. “It was meaningful. But it was meaningful more for me that our kids gained a little bit of confidence. Dartmouth is a good team and they are going to go on and do well in the league and the rest of the season. I think it says a lot about us at the moment that we are capable at putting together 90 minutes.”

Simmons booted her first career goal in the 41st minute after a corner kick from Jamie Kator bounced off the head of Simone Charley and ricocheted off the foot of a Dartmouth defender. The ball rolled just outside of the box and toward Simmons, who drove into the shot and smashed the ball into the top right corner.

“It was absolutely deserved,” Ambrose said of Simmons’ goal. “Everything that we did in the first half went through her. We moved the system a little bit and we may have to tinker with it some more but we need her on the ball. She knows how to get on the ball. She finds pockets of space. The more our players find her feet the more dangerous we’re going to become, the better rhythm we are going to establish in possession, the more we are going to make teams chase us, the more we are going to save our legs and so on and so on.

“I’m ecstatic for her, because she wants this team to do well, as well as anyone. Every day she gives every ounce she’s got. I hope it does the world for her confidence because I thought she was tremendous.”

It was enough for the Commodores, who outshot Dartmouth 17-8. Only three of the Big Green’s shots were on goal, though. Led by strong defensive performances from Cristina De Zeeuw and Danae O’Halloran, Dartmouth never mounted a serious threat. Ambrose was also pleased with the efforts of reserves midfielder Jamie Kator, defender Maggie Clemmons and midfielder Kelsey Carrier.

Vanderbilt stays at home to welcome crosstown rival Lipscomb (4-0-2) at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. The Bisons are undefeated and have yet to allow a goal this season, posting six shutouts and drawing ties against Tennessee and Cincinnati.