Vanderbilt Women’s soccer (5-1-3) returned to the Plex to face No. 2 Arkansas (7-0-1) on Thursday evening with sights set on its first SEC win of the season. However, the unbeaten Razorbacks had other plans in mind, dominating in the second half to cruise to a 2-0 victory.
After a sloppy initial five minutes of play — as both teams failed to execute passes and generate much pressure beyond midfield — Arkansas’ Ava Tankersley narrowly missed the top-right corner of the Commodores’ net following a well-placed corner kick. The ensuing minutes saw a series of threatening plays by the Razorbacks’ high-flying offense as it continuously pressured goalkeeper Kate Devine with passes deep inside Vanderbilt’s box. All Vanderbilt could do was rely on its defenders to clear the ball back to, but never farther than, midfield.
Disaster almost struck for the Commodores in the 16th minute, as Ainsley Erzen beat Devine to a slow-rolling ball in the right corner of the Commodores’ box and ricocheted a shot off of the crossbar. Just moments later, an unalert Vanderbilt defense was bested by Bella Field, but Devine ultimately absorbed her shot on the edge of Vanderbilt’s 18.
Despite the Razorbacks’ ever-present pressure, the best look of the first half came from the Commodores in the 19th minute. Rachel Deresky dazzled as she charged past multiple defenders down the right sideline, nearly sneaking a ball past the outstretched hand of Keegan Smith.
The Razorbacks’ bench was vocal with the officials throughout the first half. Eventually, the Arkansas reserves exchanged a few too many unkind words with the head referee, earning themselves a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 22nd minute.
Arkansas flirted with an early lead yet again in the 29th minute, as a wide-open Tankersley hooked a shot off of Vanderbilt’s top-left crossbar just yards in front of a leaping Kate Devine. It was only a matter of time, however, before the Razorbacks capitalized on an opportunity, as Jailyn Brownlee headed a ball into Vanderbilt’s goal in the 34th minute. Despite Devine’s strong deflection of Arkansas’ fourth corner kick in the moments prior, the goalkeeper from Brentwood, Tennessee, was unable to locate Brownlee’s rebound, and the Razorbacks took a 1-0 lead.
Through the discouraging turn of events, the Commodores finished the half strong. Vanderbilt stayed aggressive on offense, as Julianne Leskauskas rocketed a ball off of Smith’s leg in the 38th minute, and Caroline Betts just missed an equalizing header in the 41st.
Vanderbilt started the second half with a purpose, as Deresky evaded two Arkansas defenders and threaded a ball to a surging Ella Eggleston in the middle of the Razorbacks’ box. Smith shut that opportunity down as she made yet another timely stop — her fifth save of the game. Vanderbilt’s dangerous shot on goal was countered by one of Arkansas’ own, as Kennedy Ball nearly placed a header behind a diving Devine, who made an impressive, over-the-shoulder catch to stifle the Razorbacks’ attack.
The ensuing early minutes of the second half featured increased pressure and dominant time-of-possession from the Razorbacks. Such dominance was nearly put to waste when a leaping Addie Porter narrowly missed the back of Arkansas’s net off of a Commodore free kick in the 54th minute. In the 58th minute, Abi Brighton’s burst of speed down the left sideline set up a beautiful cross into the Arkansas box, but the ball was cleared after the Commodores’ offense failed to get on the same page.
Soon enough, aggressive corner play extended the Razorbacks’ lead. A patient Anaiyah Robinson controlled a rebounded cross, separated from defenders and ripped an elevated shot past Devine’s left hand in the 63rd minute to give Arkansas an extra goal of cushion.
While most teams would settle down and play keep away with a 2-0 lead, the Razorbacks were hungry for more. The Arkansas offense threatened Devine with another masterfully placed corner kick in the 68th minute, as Devine had to use the full extent of her figure to slap away a Kiley Dulaney roller. In the 70th minute, Kelsey Oller challenged again with her cannon of a leg, heaving a shot from midfield toward the direct center of Vanderbilt’s net. Devine was able to backpedal and make her third save of the game.
Vanderbilt’s offense, despite its strong first half, had completely stalled come the 75th minute. The ball rarely moved past midfield and effective passes seldom connected between players. Arkansas showcased why it is the second-ranked team in the nation, easily winning the time of possession game for the remainder of the half to secure a 2-0 victory and extend its undefeated season.
When asked about Vanderbilt’s performance, head coach Darren Ambrose commended his team’s first-half play.
“I thought we had as much of the game as [Arkansas] in the first half. I was very proud of us. I thought we had it exactly right,” Ambrose said.
However, come the second half, Ambrose felt that his team faltered.
“It hurt to be scored on in two corners, as we pride ourselves on defending our set-pieces,” Ambrose said.
Vanderbilt will seek to end its two-game skid when it faces fabled rival, Tennessee, in Knoxville on Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. CDT.
