NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Catherine Wearn’s first career collegiate goal came at the most opportune time as it was the game winning goal at the 103:51 mark to lead Vanderbilt to a 1-0 win over Belmont Sunday afternoon at the VU Soccer Complex.”I am really proud that we stayed with that ball late and ended up finding a way to get a near-post goal in the second overtime,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie. “We always tell our team that day in and day out a win is a win. There is no doubt about it that Belmont made us a much better team today.”Over 1,200 fans came out to the Commodores regular season opener that was tabbed “A Soccer for a Cure” match to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Over $5,000 was raised for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology department for comfort of the patients and for research for a cure.
Wearn, who sat out her last season with a medical redshirt, scored off a deflection from Molly Kinsella, finding the net from three yards out with just six minutes left in the second overtime.”It was a team goal. Molly Kinsella had the assist and did most of the work,” said Wearn. “I was just lucky to be standing in the right place at the right time. Today was a big game, and we wanted to start the season with a win; and we knew it was going to be tough knowing that Belmont is one of our rivals, but we are glad we won.”The Commodores dominated statistically holding a 41-6 shot advantage including a 19-3 shot-on-goal lead. VU controlled the first with an 18-3 shot disparity including eight shots on goal.VU played a majority of the game on the Bruins side of the field, with Commodore goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel recording three saves in her first shutout of the year and fifth of her career.
The game was the first-ever regular season matchup between the two local schools in women’ soccer.Vanderbilt used 17 players on the roster in the game, including five freshmen making their first collegiate appearances (Emily Grant, Elizabeth Lillie, Bridget Lohmuller, Candace West and Lyndsey Wilcox) in addition to Wearn.”It was great that we were able to play a lot of numbers today because in overtime you need fresh legs,” added Coveleskie. “I thought that every player that stepped onto the field today did a fantastic job of stepping up to the challenge of what we put in front of them.”The Commodores will travel over to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Friday to take on Middle Tennessee, before returning home against South Florida next Sunday at noon.
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