MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Playing its first exhibition of the 2021 spring season, Vanderbilt put a trio in the back of the net in a span of 10 minutes midway through the second half on the way to a 4-0 exhibition win at Middle Tennessee State on Monday night.
“I was really pleased with our shape and how we moved the ball,” Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose said. “It took a while to find the end product but overall it was a very positive first outing. We got contributions from a lot of players through 90 minutes.”
Rotating its lineup throughout the game, Vanderbilt shook off the rust in the first 45 minutes before getting on the board a few minutes into the second half. First it was Abi Brighton in the 56th minute taking a feed from Mairin Boyle. Brighton made room in close and fired top shelf to the near right post just under the cross bar.
Safe to say, it’s good to be back. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Yv2JM1MwP7
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) February 23, 2021
Just two minutes later in the 58th minute, Madi Allen collected a loose ball near the top of the box and sent a ball on a rope top shelf to the left side of goal to make it a quick 2-0 lead.
Less than 10 minutes later with Vanderbilt still on the attack, Raegan Kelley took a shot that was blocked at the top of the six-yard box, but Boyle was there to clean up the rebound. Tapping her chance to the right, she tallied to make it a 3-0 Commodore lead.
Finishing the night, Alea Hyatt scored on a deflected cross from Alex Kerr in the 84th minute. The goal marks a tally in Hyatt’s first competition as a Commodore after transferring from USC ahead of the season.
Vanderbilt played most of its roster in this its first exhibition, including all three goalkeepers – Sophie Guilmette, Sarah Fuller and Kate Devine – playing 30 minutes apiece.
The Commodores will return to the pitch for their second exhibition Saturday against DePaul. Kickoff is set for noon on SEC Network+.
