July 29, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Taylor Allen and Emily Bush have both transferred to Vanderbilt to join the women’s soccer team this fall, athletic officials announced Thursday.
“We are very excited to add two quality players like Taylor and Emily this late in the year,” assistant coach Sebastian Vecchio said. “We feel like they have the necessary tools to contribute on the team right away and make a positive impact.”
Allen joins the Commodores after starting 16 games during her freshman year at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The defender scored one goal and added an assist for the Vulcans, who went 4-12-4 on the season.
A native of Fullerton, Calif., Allen was a first-team All-League selection twice while at Fullerton Union High School. The honor roll student has aspirations to become an orthopedic surgeon.
“Taylor has the ability to be an impact player in the midfield or backline,” Vecchio noted. “Her size and ability to win balls in the air will be great assets for this team.”
Bush played in seven games last year at Baylor while battling through an injury, scoring one goal. The Bears went 8-6-5 and advanced to the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2006.
The Coppell, Texas product led her club team, Solar ’91, in assists en route to the 2008 Lake Highlands Girls Classic League championship. A biomedical engineering major, Bush spoke in front of Baylor’s Board of Computer Science and Engineering last year about her experiences as a student-athlete.
“Emily will add some depth on the flanks,” Vecchio added. “She can play outside mid or outside forward. She has the ability to serve the ball in the box and create scoring opportunities for her teammates.”
Allen and Bush will enroll at Vanderbilt this fall and be eligible to play for three seasons, beginning immediately.
Preseason practice begins next week for the Commodores, who will play their lone exhibition game of the 2010 season on Sunday, August 15, at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The Dores will host Belmont at 6 p.m. CT, immediately following the football team’s annual Dore Jam celebration. Admission to the preseason game is free.
Vanderbilt will play host to 10 regular season games this season, opening on Friday, August 27, when Minnesota visits for a 7 p.m. start.
