NASHVILLE – The Commodores finished their preseason with a perfect record as they defeated the Memphis Tigers, 2-0, on Saturday night at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The Commodores won both of their exhibitions.
Head coach Darren Ambrose was pleased with his team following the game.
“It was a good team performance,” Ambrose said. “There were a lot of really good individual performances tonight, so I’m really happy.”
Both teams were scoreless until Kaylann Boyd took a cross from Myra Konte and knocked it in from the right side of the box in the 54th minute. It was Boyd’s second goal of the preseason and Konte’s first assist.
The Dores didn’t waste any time after the first goal, coming right back in the 55th minute as Olivia Simmons lobbed one in over the goalkeeper from just outside the box. It was Simmons’ first goal of the preseason.
The Tigers outshot the Commodores, 11-7, but the teams were equal in shots on goal with two apiece. Two different goalkeepers split time for the Commodores with Taiana Tolleson taking the first half in goal and Lauren Demarchi the second.
Demarchi recorded both saves in the second half and kept the Commodores unscored upon in their two exhibition games.
“That’s a good team we played,” Ambrose said. “We knew we would be challenged. We defended very well. We kept our shape really well.”
Vanderbilt kicks off the regular season when it travels to Tallahassee, Fla., to face Florida State on Aug. 16. The team opens its home slate eight days later, welcoming Miami (Fla.) at 7:30 p.m.
