Vanderbilt shut out in road loss to North Texas

DENTON, Texas – A slow start in the first half stymied the Vanderbilt soccer team from leaving their Texas road trip with a win.

The Commodores suffered a 1-0 loss at North Texas on Sunday for their second straight loss. A goal in the 69th minute for the undefeated Mean Green was the difference but Vanderbilt coach Derek Greene said his team’s start to the game proved more costly.

“This is a tough loss,” Greene said. “We have to do a better job coming out with more passion in the first half. We moved the ball well but there was no desire to win in the first half.”

Coming off a tough 2-1 overtime loss at Rice on Friday, Vanderbilt (3-3) mustered just three shots in the opening half against North Texas. The Commodores managed 10 shots in the second half. But it wasn’t enough as they had just four shots on goal. Sasha Gray led the team with five shots.

North Texas (5-0) stayed undefeated on a goal midway through the second half. Molly Grisham scored on a shot outside the penalty box that soared into the top right corner and well beyond the reach of Vanderbilt goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami for the game-winner. Ogunsami made six saves, just one shy of tying a career-high.

“The second half we imposed our will on the game and dominated every phase other than the scoreboard,” Greene said. “There were some really bright spots and quality chances in the second half, but we played down to their level in the first half and that ultimately cost us the game. That’s unacceptable and we have to learn from it.”

The Commodores will try to snap the two-game losing streak as they return to Nashville to play Lipscomb at 7 p.m. on Friday at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex.