Vandy stifled by Ole Miss, falls 1-0

OXFORD, Miss. – The Vanderbilt soccer team could only break through the Ole Miss defense for five shots, Friday night, as the ‘Dores fell 1-0 from the Ole Miss Soccer Complex. The Rebels scored the eventual game-winner in the 58th minute of play, and allowed only two second half shots to seal the win.

“Give full credit to Ole Miss,” Vandy head coach Derek Greene said. “They have two really special players in Souza and McCalla. You can’t prepare for how good those two are and how big of an impact they play. They were a handful for us tonight.”

With the loss the Commodores fall to 3-8-3 and 0-5-1 in Southeastern Conference play.

Ole Miss improves to 11-3-1 and 4-2-0 in SEC contests.

Vanderbilt couldn’t muster up anything offensively, taking a season low five shots, with only one of those making it to net. Defensively, the Commodores allowed 11 shots on goal, but Shannon Morrish held her ground saving a season-high ten shots.

“I was really pleased with how Shannon played,” Greene said. “She made some game-changing saves in the first half to keep it close.”

Despite the difference in chances, the Commodores went into halftime all knotted up at zero.

Out of the half Ole Miss continued to control possession. The Rebels were able to net the eventual game-winner in the 58th minute off a Mandy McCalla goal. McCalla netted her 11th of the year following a blocked Jennifer Miller shot.

“We just came out in the first half shell-shocked,” said Greene. “We responded towards the middle of the first half but it just wasn’t enough.”

Vandy will be back in action next Friday night when it hosts Arkansas from the VU Soccer Complex.