NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Junior Molly Kinsella and senior Megan Forester each scored goals in Vanderbilt’s 2-0 win over Mercer Friday night at the VU Soccer Complex.
The Commodores improved to 2-0 on the year while the Bears fell to 1-1.
“That was a very hard fought match,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Woodard who coached on the day her first child was due. “I thought that Mercer did a great job of coming out and putting a tremendous amount of pressure on us early and they maintained that for the entire game. They are a very spirited and hardworking team and they gave us all that we can handle tonight.”
For the second straight game neither Vanderbilt or its opponent scored in the first half.
“At halftime we told our team they needed to come out as an entirely different team,” said Woodard. “We needed to improve our speed of play and play with more athleticism and more confidence on the ball. I thought the girls did a much better job of taking control of the match.”
The Commodores got on the board at the 47:13 minute when Molly Kinsella scored from right inside the 18-yard box off a deflected ball of a Mercer player.
VU held the lead and added to it with just over four minutes left when Megan Forester scored from inside five yards in front of the goal off a perfectly timed pass from Hannah Gonzales.
“It was a great ball by Hannah flicking the ball and giving me the chance to score,” said Forester.
Junior goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel recorded her first shutout of the year with six saves on the night.
Vanderbilt outshot Mercer 21-11 and controlled possession for most of the contest. Molly Kinsella led VU with four shots on goal while Forester and Megan Kinsella added two shots each.
Every available Commodore got playing time off the bench tonight including freshmen Kate Goldin, Dana Schwartz and Madeline Danna. Veterans Gonzales, Kristine Chaklos, Bridget Lohmuller and Catherine Wearn also saw their first action of the year in the win.
The Commodores will continue its five-game homestand on Sunday with a contest against Murray State at 2 p.m.
Woodard who is expecting her first child with husband Tom will continue to coach until the child is delivered.
“I am a little anxious to become a mother,” added Woodard. “I don’t know when he will arrive and everytime I jumped up on the bench or yelled I wondered about when he is going to come. For the first time I am not in control of this part of my life so I just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.”
