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Vanderbilt Defeats Western Kentucky, 2-1 10/29/2004
Vanderbilt Defeats Western Kentucky, 2-1 Nashville, Tenn. – Freshman Joe Germanese stole the ball and then hit a sharp-angled shot from 23-yards out to lead Vanderbilt to a 2-1 win over Western Kentucky tonight in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Vanderbilt improves to 7-9-1, 3-6 in Missouri Valley Conference action while Western Kentucky owns a 5-11-1 record, 1-7-1 in league action. It was the first win for the Commodores in the last five tries against the Hilltoppers. The Commodores totaled 16 shots, including 11 in the first half. On the 10th shot, junior Kyle Lapkewych took a pass from Tim Lonergan off a corner kick by Patrick Ryan and scored from five-yards out at the 35:55 mark. It was the sixth corner kick of the game for the Commodores. The Hilltoppers tied the game six minutes later when Trey Alexander found the back of the net at the 41:54 mark. Alexander received a free kick from 16-yards out after VU goalkeeper Jamie Burns violated the pass back rule. Alexander’s low-moving shot was never above knee-high and went untouched through a wall of Commodore defenders. Germanese hit his second game-winning goal of the season with just 58 seconds remaining in the first half when he stole the ball in WKU territory, turned and shot a bullet from 23-yards out right-to-left. “It is so great to get a win,” VU Head Coach Tim McClements said. “We felt like we deserved better results last weekend, and tonight the team was rewarded for their hard work. They deserved this one.” Senior Jamie Burns played the first half in goal and totaled one save, while Kenny Schoeni played the second half and totaled three saves. Schoeni and the Commodore defense were aggressive in the last minutes of the game covering and deflecting many balls in heavy Hilltopper traffic. WKU freshman goalkeeper Kyle Schroeder totaled five saves allowing the two goals. The Hilltoppers totaled 11 shots, led by Alexander with six, including two on goal. Seniors Jamie Burns, Adam Guzzo and Brendan Matthews along with their parents were honored prior to the game. The Commodores will make their first appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament since the 2001 season next weekend with a play-in game with the opponent and site to be determined Sunday. |
