The hype for Vanderbilt Soccer couldn’t be higher heading into this week’s matchups against Kansas (Sept. 5) and Middle Tennessee (Sept. 8). Thanks to a deep roster and creative offensive scheme, the Commodores have already put away 12 goals in four matches. Last year’s tally of six goals through four matches suggests that this year’s squad boasts a reenergized offense.
If the Commodores maintain their current offensive production through the week’s end, the sample size of six matches will be large enough to brush off any lingering doubts of a lucky streak. Vanderbilt’s match against Kansas will be its biggest test, as the Commodores only scored once in their 2023 meeting with the Jayhawks that ended in a draw.
Depth and Betts
Depth has been a key point for the offense so far this season. Not only have six different Commodores found the back of the net thus far, but four (Sydney Watts, Courtney Jones, Addie Porter and Caroline Betts) have tallied multiple goals. This variety reveals the key to Vanderbilt’s success — there is no single star that defenses can focus on. Vanderbilt’s offensive front poses a threat from sideline to sideline.
Watts has emerged as a focal point of the offense, recording at least one point in the last three games. Jones has also proven herself to be a threat, netting two goals in a 3-0 victory over Columbia.
Vanderbilt’s attack possesses a secret weapon in Betts. Betts proved herself as a starting-caliber forward by scoring in her first start of the season against Columbia. But Betts’ biggest contribution may come as a super sub. Much like the sixth man in basketball, Betts could be a surge off the bench despite being skilled enough to start. After opening-day starter Ella Eggleston made her return on limited minutes against Columbia, Betts might get relegated back to the bench. Regardless, she will be Vanderbilt’s best bet in keeping the pressure on when other stars are resting against Kansas and Middle Tennessee.
Kansas’ kryptonite
The Jayhawks will meet a familiar foe in Vanderbilt’s Porter on Thursday night. With the clock winding down in last year’s match, Porter headed in a corner from Jones to salvage a point for the Commodores in the 89th minute.
While Porter was left off the squad for load-management purposes against Columbia, she still scored in back-to-back games against Belmont and St. Mary’s. A well-rested Porter might be enough to push Vanderbilt past a Kansas defense that has only allowed 2.6 shots on goal per game through five matches.
Porter’s partner in crime, Jones, has also made ripples this season. The duo have identical 2024 stat lines so far at two goals and one assist apiece. Jones is coming off a big game against Columbia where she scored twice from outside the box — a skill that could help Vanderbilt get more shots off against Kansas’s airtight defense.
While the ever-so-capable Abi Brighton has been shouldering many of the set piece duties this season, she certainly has the ability to tee up a conversion from the corner like Jones did last week. Brighton assisted Jones’ second goal against Columbia and will look to do more of the same against Kansas.
Wojo mojo
Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sarah Wojdelko will have her hands full against Kansas — a team that’s generated at least 10 shots every game this season. While she has a very capable defense in front of her, Wojdelko will have to stay on her toes against a Jayhawk offense that is on the cusp of a breakthrough, averaging 1.2 goals and 13.6 shots per game.
The senior keeper is certainly capable, as she has only allowed one goal this entire season while racking up eight saves. In fact, it took a three-save performance against No. 21 Georgetown to preserve a clean sheet.
The harsh reality about facing Kansas is that Wojdelko will likely have to face more shots than she has against any other team this season.
The transitive property
While the outcome of a soccer game cannot be determined by a calculator, or even a writer with a laptop, one of math’s quintessential concepts may come in handy when predicting the outcome of Vanderbilt vs. Middle Tennessee.
The transitive property explains that if “A” is greater than “B,” and “B” is greater than “C,” then “A” must be greater than “C.” Earlier in the season, Middle Tennessee fell 2-1 at the hands of Belmont. So, if the transitive property holds true for Vanderbilt vs. Middle Tennessee (it does not for all soccer games), Vanderbilt will be in luck. The Commodores cruised to a 5-0 win over the Bruins just four days after Belmont bested Middle Tennessee.
There is no mathematical approach to flawlessly predicting the outcome of soccer games. Still, Vanderbilt’s wide margin of victory over Belmont suggests that it is a run-away favorite against Middle Tennessee.
The Commodores will host Kansas at 7 p.m. CDT on Sept. 5 and Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. CDT on Sept. 8 for their fourth and fifth consecutive home games.
