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Women’s soccer prepared for SEC tournament 11/2/2004 The Commodores women’s soccer team is on their way to Auburn, Alabama to face the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in the first round of the SEC tournament. The Commodores fared well against the Bulldogs in the regular season; winning 4-1 back on October 22 (at MSU). “We are very excited to be competing at the SEC tournament this weekend,” said Head Coach Ronnie Coveleskie Hill. “This is the time of the year when champions are created. Tournament time is the second season for many teams. It is a chance to compete with a clean slate. You win, you continue to play. As a player, there is nothing more exciting than playing a game to advance.”<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
The Commodores are 5-1 all time against <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />MississippiState. The last time the Bulldogs won was in 2002. Currently, the Dores are 6-6-5 overall and 5-2-4 in the SEC. Mississippi State has a record of 9-8-3 overall and 5-5-1 in the SEC. “Our first round game is going to be a challenge for us,” said Hill. “MississippiState is playing great soccer right now. They won two very difficult and clutch games at the end of the season to claim the #5 spot in the SEC tournament.”
Historically, the Dores have faired well in SEC tournament play going 10-7-1 since 1993. They have not advanced past the first round, however, since 2000. Their past two appearances at the tournament have resulted in losses to Florida (3-1 in 2003 and 4-0 in 200). “I firmly believe that to be successful in the SEC tournament, we have to focus on one game at a time,” said Hill. “And right now- that game is Thursday night against a quality MississippiState team.”
The Commodores had a recent insurgence of great play since starting the SEC regular season. Excellent efforts from Meghan Habig (goal leader), Lea Lafield (assist leader) and Tyler Griffin has propelled Vanderbilt to their 5-2-4 SEC record. Lafield, Habig and Griffin lead the SEC in numerous record categories this season. “I have watched this team grow as individual players as well as a team,” said Hill. “I am so very proud of all that they have accomplished. And, I am looking forward to post season play.”
The Commodores first round SEC tournament game kicks off on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. Catch game updates at halftime on vucommodores.com.
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