COLUMBIA, S.C. – Vanderbilt’s Nicole Lukens notched her team-high sixth goal of the season at the 88:59 mark but it wasn’t enough as No. 12 South Carolina edged the Commodores 2-1 at Eugene Stone Stadium on a warm Friday evening. The loss drops Vanderbilt to (6-2-1, 0-1 SEC) while South Carolina remained undefeated (9-0-0, 1-0 SEC).
The win for South Carolina was its first win over Vanderbilt since they defeated the Commodores 2-1 in overtime at the 1999 SEC Tournament. VU now leads the all-time series with USC 13-2-2.
“I think this is the best South Carolina team we have faced and I want to give them credit for the way they played tonight,” Head Coach Ronnie Woodard said. “However, I don’t think we gave them a match tonight what we are capable of.”
VU fell behind 1-0 after South Carolina’s Kortney Rhoades got the Gamecocks on the board at the 15:47 mark. Rhoades’ shot from 20-yards out ricocheted off a Vanderbilt defender, causing the ball to change directions in mid-air before landing in the top right corner of the net passed the outstretched arms of VU goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel. USC’s Lindsay Small and Kayla Grimsley were credited with the assist.
The Commodores controlled Gamecocks went back-and-forth in terms of possession during the first half as USC outshot the ‘Dores 8-5 in the opening stanza. VU’s Megan Forester led Vanderbilt with three shots during the first half while Molly Kinsella and Nicole Lukens each had one.
The Gamecocks extended its lead to two goals when Brooke Jacobs scored on an open net after VU’s Bachtel mishandled a save. USC’s second goal came six minutes into the second half (51:38 mark).
“It’s unfortunate that we gave up an own goal in the first half and than Rachel made a mistake in the second half on their second goal,” Woodard said. “Unfortunately, when you’re a goalkeeper and you are playing an SEC team, it usually results in a goal but I was proud of the way Rachel responded by making two great saves. The main thing we can take from this loss, is we win as a team and we lose as a team.”
The Vanderbilt offensive attack continued to put pressure on USC’s goal keeper Mollie Patton, who came into the game with an SEC record seven consecutive shutouts.
As the clock continued to run down the Commodores turned up its intensity on both sides of the field during the tail-end of the second half. Bachtel made two sensational diving saves to keep the ‘Dores within striking distance in the middle to the end of the final period.
VU’s Nicole Lukens got the ‘Dores on the scoreboard at the 88:59 mark when she placed a strong header in the box off a beautiful cross from Molly Kinsella. Lukens’ goal marked her team-best sixth of the season while Molly Kinsella added her SEC-leading eighth assists.
The Commodores became the first opponent to score on USC’s Patton this season, as her SEC record ended on Friday night with Lukens goal. The Gamecocks came into the contest ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in defense (0.125 goals against average).
The Commodores will continue its southeast road swing on Sunday as they will play at tenth ranked Florida. The game with the Gators will start at 1 p.m. CT and it will be televised on CSS. Check local listings for availability in your area.
“Hopefully we will learn from this game and quickly put it behind us because we have another difficult game in just two days against a ranked Florida team,” Woodard said.
