LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite a 6-1 loss to Kentucky on Friday at the UK Soccer Complex, the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team has advanced to the 2010 Southeastern Conference Tournament based on the strength of its season.
Following their Senior Night festivities, Kentucky was hitting on all cylinders Friday. The Commodores allowed four first-half goals and six total scores — the most allowed by Vanderbilt since 1991.
Senior Nicole Adams scored the Commodores’ lone goal of the evening. Her header in the 18th minute off assists from senior Molly Kinsella and sophomore Dana Schwartz leveled the game at 1-1. The goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.
In other SEC action, Florida claimed the regular season championship with a 1-0 win at South Carolina. Tennessee claimed third place ahead of Georgia with a 2-1 victory in Knoxville.
Vanderbilt’s postseason fate came down to a trio of late games. Auburn won the SEC Western Division and took fifth place overall with a 2-1 overtime victory against Alabama. LSU defeated Arkansas to sixth place overall. The biggest game of all for Commodore fans was Mississippi State’s first conference victory, a 2-1 come-from-behind effort over rival Ole Miss.
With a win over their in-state rivals, the Rebels would have knocked the Commodores out. Instead, Vanderbilt will take on top-seed Florida in an opening round match on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. CT in Orange Beach, Ala.
