#33 Abi Brighton Season 2020-21
Midfielder
Honors:
• 2024 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American First Team
• 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-American Second Team
• 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team
• 2024 All-SEC Second Team
• TSWA College Soccer Player of the Week (Sept. 25, 2024)
• 2023 All-SEC Second Team
• 2021 SEC Honor Roll
• 2020 SEC All-Tournament Team
• 2020 SEC All-Freshman Team
As a Graduate (2024):
• Appeared in 19 games (all starts) and registered over 1,500 minutes
• Dished an assist to help lift Vandy to its first ever Sweet 16 appearance after taking down Florida State (Nov. 22) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament
• Tallied an assist at Florida (Oct. 18)
• Scored first goal of season to equalize the match in the SEC opener at Auburn (Sept. 19)
• Dished an assist in 3-0 win over Columbia (Aug. 30)
As a Senior (2023):
• Started in all 18 games for the Commodores and registered over 1,500 minutes played
• Finished year with two goals, three assists for seven points
• Registered another assist in 3-3 draw against Florida (Oct. 22)
• Delivered game winning assist off a corner kick to win match against Missouri (Oct. 13)
• Tallied second goal and first assist of season against Texas A&M (Oct. 5)
• Scored first goal of season against Ole Miss (Sept. 21)
• Named team captian
As a Junior (2022):
• Started all 21 of the Dores’ matches
• Totaled 1,683 minutes on the pitch
• Collected seven points from one goal and five assists
• Recorded her first assist on the season against ETSU (Sept. 2)
• Found second assist in 1-1 draw against Georgia (Oct. 6)
• Tallied her first goal on the season at Florida (Oct. 10)
• Had an assist in Dores’ SEC quarterfinals victory over No. 9 Arkansas (Nov. 1)
• Assisted game-winning goal in NCAA Tournament win at No. 25 Clemson
As a Sophomore (2021):
• Appeared in all 19 contests for the Commodores, starting 18
• Recorded third-most goals on the team with three
• Opened the season with two goals in three games
• Tallied eight points in her sophomore season off three goals and two assists
As a Freshman (2020-21):
• Started all 16 games throughout the season
• Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after the regular season and earned a spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team
• Finished the season with three goals and two assists for eight points
• Made her collegiate debut in the season opener against Kentucky (Sept. 20)
• Recorded her first point with an assist on the equalizing goal in Vanderbilt’s 2-1 double-overtime victory on the road at Florida (Oct. 18)
• Netted a rocket of a goal in the second round of the SEC Tournament against Mississippi State (Nov. 15) that went on to earn No. 3 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays. Also had an assist in the 4-2 victory
• Scored the third goal in the SEC title game against No. 6 Arkansas (Nov. 22)
• Tallied the game-tying goal against No. 17 Memphis (March 28) in the 88th minute
High School:
• Student of the Month (May 2019)
• Heritage Academic Scholarship Award (2019)
• Captain (2012-18)
The Brighton File:
• Born March 29, 2002 in Beaufort, S.C.
• Parents: John and Stephanie Brighton
• Club Team: Armada FC
• Club Coach: Daniel Villarreal
• Chose Vanderbilt because “I am excited to experience a change of scenery going from a small island to a big city. I can’t wait to be a part of such a competitive team and school to push me to the best of my ability.”