Nov. 1, 2007
Friday vs. Kentucky: 
| Sunday at Florida:
Audio: Coach Coveleskie Discusses the Senior Class
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Vanderbilt soccer will close out its regular season this weekend, starting with the home finale against Kentucky Friday night at 7 p.m. at the VU Soccer Complex.
The Commodores will then take a trip to Gainesville to take on Florida on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. CT. This contest is a makeup of the originally scheduled contest on October 5 that was postponed due to rain.
Vanderbilt’s contest against Kentucky will pit two teams fighting for a spot in the eight team Southeastern Conference tournament that begins next Wednesday, November 7 in Orange Beach, Ala.
The Commodores, 6-8-3 overall, are currently tied with the Wildcats for eighth place in the SEC with a 3-4-2 mark. A win or a tie over Kentucky will ensure a spot in the tourney field next week. A loss to the Wildcats would mean that Vanderbilt would have to win at Florida on Sunday to solidify its fifth straight postseason appearance.
Depending on how this weekend’s slate of games plays out, VU can finish as high as the fourth seed entering the tournament.
Friday’s contest will be the final home game for five seniors: Amy Baumann, Sarah Dennis, Brette Healy, Meredith Kohn and Audrey Nonemaker.
Kentucky is riding a four-game unbeaten streak into Friday’s contest and stand at 9-6-3 overall. The Wildcats beat Mississippi State 3-2 and Ole Miss 2-0 last weekend. The Wildcats won the SEC tournament a year ago and need a win to have a chance to defend the crown. Senior Callie Lamphier leads the team in scoring with four goals and three assists on the year, while freshman Sydney Hiance has been in net during SEC play with a 1.16 goals against average and three shutouts.
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 11-9, but Kentucky won last year’s meeting 1-0 in Lexington.
“I think that Friday’s game will be filled with a lot of emotions on both sides,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie. “Kentucky is in a must win situation having to win to get to Orange Beach, and it is also our Senior Night for a beloved group of girls that have done such a great job for our program. We also know we have to tie or win to advance so there is a lot of pressure on the game and I think there will be a lot of excitement for the game. We have done all that we can do as a team this week to prepare for it.”
Florida, ranked No. 22 in the latest Coaches Poll, is 11-4-2 overall and 7-2-0 in league play. They are currently in third place in the SEC standings, with an outside chance to finish in first depending on the weekend’s results. They take on South Carolina at home Friday night.
The Gators are led in scoring by senior KeLeigh Hudson with seven goals and five assists (19 points). Freshman Meghan Berlingo has been sharing time in net with redshirt freshman Katie Fraine this year. Berlingo sports a 0.33 goals against average with three shutouts in eight games, while Fraine has a 0.71 goals against average in 13 games.
Florida leads the all-time series 16-2-1 and are unbeaten 14-0-1 in the last 15 meetings dating back to 1997.
“Florida is always one of the top teams in the SEC and will be a tough match to end the regular season,” added Coveleskie.
