MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Senior Amy Wilcox’s first minutes of the 2008 season jump-started the Commodores as she scored the game winning goal to lead Vanderbilt to a 2-1 win over Middle Tennessee Friday night at Blue River Field.
Wilcox, who missed the first game of the year while rehabbing an ankle injury, scored the game-winning goal in the first half.
The Commodores improved to 2-0 on the season while the Blue Raiders fell to 0-1-1. The 2-0 start is the best in 10 years, dating back to 1998 when the team opened the year 6-0.
“It was a very hard fought game,” said Vanderbilt head coach Ronnie Coveleskie. “I thought it was very physical and we had some very dangerous players to deal with from MTSU. I was pleased that we fought hard in the second half and I think for us to win games we have to battle and keep our composure and we did that tonight.”
The Blue Raiders struck the back of the net first as MTSU’s Shan Jones fired a shot just outside the box off the upper left post past a diving Rachel Bachtel at the 10:53 mark.
The Commodores continued the offensive attack as they outshot the Blue Raiders 10-3 in the game’s first 23 minutes. With 20 minutes to go in the first half Wilcox entered the game for the first time and the offense started to click.
Sophomore Molly Kinsella tied the game up in the 28th-minute as she went top-shelf from 12-yards out. Kinsella was set-up on the play by receiving assists from freshmen Elizabeth Lillie and Emily Grant. The goal for Kinsella was her first of the season after leading the team with six goals a year ago. It was the first collegiate assists for Lillie and Grant.
Three minutes later the Commodores took the lead as Wilcox scored off a Blue Raider deflected ball six yards out. Molly Kinsella was credited with the assist on Wilcox’s goal.
“It was torture last weekend not being out on the field,” said Wilcox, who had ankle surgery in the spring. “I just had extra adrenaline when I went out there and scoring a goal was the icing on the cake.”
“Amy has been a spark for us the minute she stepped on the field her freshman year,” added Coveleskie. “She is dynamic and aggressive and really wants the ball, and she came in her first game back and scored the game-winning goal. I can’t be more proud of her.”
With a win over the Blue Raiders, the Commodores now lead the all-time series 3-0.
For the second straight game Vanderbilt held a decided statistical advantage, holding a 24-7 shot lead. The Commodores have allowed under 10 shots in the first two games.
The Dores will be back in action at the VU Soccer Complex on Sunday as Big East foe South Florida comes to town for a noon tilt.
VU was without the services of three starters from last year’s team as Katie Schulz, Taylour Claxton and Mary Rachel Reynolds did not play due to injuries. Also sitting out the game with injuries were freshmen Candace West and Kate Goldin. The coaching staff expects Schulz and West to play on Sunday while the others are out indefinitely.
“We will get rested up tomorrow and then regroup for a very good South Florida team,” said Coveleskie. “It will be a very good matchup against South Florida and I definitely think we will have to bring our very best game.”
