NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the last home game of the season, the Vanderbilt soccer team went out with a bang, handing the Ole Miss Rebels a 4-1 defeat on senior day.
The Commodores began the day celebrating their three seniors, Claire Anderson, Sasha Gray and Kacy Scarpa. In front of the largest Sunday crowd of the season, each senior went on to be an integral part of Vandy’s victory.
After knocking on Vanderbilt’s door, the Rebels scratched across the first goal of the competition in the 30th minute. Bella Forenzo placed the ball just above the fingertips of freshman goalkeeper Lauren Demarchi for the lead. VU, however, quickly counter-attacked using the one goal deficit as motivation.
Running down midfield into Mississippi territory, Lydia Simmons laid off a beautiful forward pass to Sydney O’Donnell. The freshman leveled the score in the 34th –minute of the match, striking the ball into the right corner of the goal for her third of the season.
The goal by O’Donnell opened up what became one of the Commodores’ best performances of the season. At the half, Vanderbilt outshot UM 6-5, with Demarchi making two saves in the opening 45 minutes.
VU continued its offensive dominance in the second half as Anderson netted her first goal of the season in her last home performance as a Commodore.On the left side of the Rebel box and without an Ole Miss defender in sight, the Seattle, Wash. native gave VU the 2-1 edge placing the ball to the left of Ole Miss’ diving goalkeeper Marnie Merritt.
Moments later Hannon Eberts hooked up with freshman Jackie Welch to give the Dores a two-goal advantage. Welch found the back of the net on a shot down the middle that just skimmed under Merritt, who’s dive attempt came up empty.
Less then 10 minutes later, the Commodores were back on the attack as O’Donnell played a simple pass outside of the box to Eberts. The freshman had time to take a touch or two before earning Vandy its final goal of the season, shooting the ball past the Ole Miss GK as she abandoned goal in an attempt to make the save.
Up three goals, the Commodore coaching staff subbed in freshman goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson and junior defender Danielle Snajder, who saw their first SEC minutes of the season.
With the victory, the Commodores improve to 9-7-1 and secure their first consecutive overall winning seasons since 2008 and 2009. Vanderbilt now has 35 goals on the season, the most since 2013 when the ‘Dores scored 37.
The Commodores hit the road in their final regular season contest of the year, facing the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.
