NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt soccer closed out its non-conference portion of the season with a 4-1 win over UAB Sunday afternoon at the VU Soccer Complex.
The Commodores dominated throughout the match to improve to 6-1-1 on the year, while the Blazers fell to 2-6.
“I am extremely proud of our team’s effort today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie. “The momentum we’ve been building in non-conference play has been tremendous, I couldn’t say enough positive things about this team. They continue to work hard and relish the opportunity to get out there and compete.”
Senior forward Amy Wilcox got VU on the board at the 17:17 mark in the first half, scoring on a shot from 12 yards out on the left side that hit the cross bar and went in. Molly and Megan Kinsella were credited with the assists on the goal.
“It was a great ball from Molly Kinsella,” said Wilcox. “We have really started to work well together and she set me up perfectly.”
Freshman Candace West scored less than 10 minutes later at the 26:04 point to make it 2-0. She took a feed from Molly Kinsella and streaked toward the goal and fired from the center of the field high over the keeper’s head and in for her third score of the year.
UAB only had two shots in the first half and the second one came via a penalty-kick goal by Danya Barsalona. She scored her third goal of the year at the 29:08 mark to cut the lead to 2-1.
Vanderbilt held a 19-2 shot advantage in the first half and a 5-0 corner-kicks lead.
Nicole Lukens recorded her second goal of the season, off a deflected shot by Elizabeth Lillie at the 38:24 point to make it 3-1.
Amy Wilcox closed out the scoring with her second goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 55th minute (55:04). She is tied with Candace West for the team lead in goals with three, and now has 10 goals in her VU career.
The Commodores finished with a commanding 29-5 shot lead, including a 16-3 shot on goal disparity. Molly Kinsella had three shots on goal and two assists to lead the team in both categories.
Vanderbilt was able to use 23 players in the game with sophomore Mary Rachel Reynolds and freshman Kate Goldin making their first appearances of the year. Both players were rehabbing injuries to start the year.
Goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel recorded two saves in nearly 77 minutes of work, with Devan Council coming on to record 13 minutes of shutout action in net.
VU’s 6-1-1 non-conference record ties the 2005 team for the best start in Ronnie Coveleskie’s tenure. The 2005 squad went 6-1 in non-Southeastern Conference play en route to an 11-1 start.
“We try to approach every game in the same matter and every game we play is an important game,” said Coveleskie. “I am hopeful that we will continue to play with the same mentality the rest of the season.”
Vanderbilt will continue its five-game home stand with the start of SEC play next weekend against Alabama and Auburn. The Commodores and Crimson Tide will open league play on Friday at 7 p.m. with VU and AU hooking up on Sunday at 2 p.m. The latter game will be televised regionally on Fox Sports Net and both teams will wear pink uniforms as part of Under Armour’s Power in Pink initiative.
“Obviously we are excited to be 6-1-1 going into conference play, but we know that the SEC is another step up in competition so we have to pick our game up even more,” added Wilcox.
