NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Junior Megan Kinsella and freshman Amanda Essay each scored a goal in Vanderbilt’s 2-1 win over Saint Louis in both teams’ season opening soccer match in front of 612 fans Saturday night at the VU Soccer Complex.
“I am real proud of the way our team competed tonight against a good Saint Louis team,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Woodard. “We played with a lot of energy and several players performed well tonight.”
Neither team scored in the first half, with Vanderbilt dominating possession for most of the period. VU held a 12-5 shot advantage in the stanza.
The Dores got on the board first at the the 58:34 mark when Megan Kinsella scored off of assists from Candace West and Molly Kinsella. The goal was from nine yards out past the keeper into the left corner of the net.
Vanderbilt added what would be the game-winning goal at the 75:45 point when Essay headed in a ball from four yards out from a feed from West.
“Amanda played great for us tonight and she put a solid header in the back of the net on a nice ball from Candice West,” said Woodard. “I thought Candice was our go-to player tonight and to her credit she had two great assists.”
Saint Louis stormed back into the game three minutes later at the 78:55 mark when Susan Frederickson scored off a deflected corner kick from Julia Bradenberg from 14 yards out to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Billikens had one last shot at tying the game with less than three minutes left, but Ashley Hayes header from the right side sailed wide left.
Molly Kinsella led VU with six shots offensively, while Nicole Lukens and Megan Kinsella led the notched two shots on goal each in the winning effort.
Three freshmen started in the contest for the Commodores: Essay, Chelsea Stewart and CJ Rhoades. VU only used two players off the bench in freshman Margaux Andrews and sophomore Emily Grant.
Ashley Hayes led the Billikens with four shots, while goalkeeper Hannah Perry recorded six saves in a busy night.
The Commodores will continue its five-game home stand next weekend with matches against Mercer (Friday at 7 p.m.) and Murray State (Sunday at 2 p.m.).
“It’s nice to start the year out with a win at home in front of a nice Vanderbilt crowd,” summed up Woodard.
