After going undefeated in non-conference play, Vanderbilt Soccer (5-2-4, 0-2-2) has yet to notch a conference win. In their last matchup, the Commodores drew with Tennessee 1-1, scoring their first goal in 10 days after suffering back-to-back shutout losses. With a match against No. 24 South Carolina (5-1-4, 2-1-0) ahead, the girls in black and gold face yet another tough opponent on their quest for three points.
The Gamecocks enter Friday’s matchup coming off a 2-0 loss to No. 1 Arkansas, with both goals coming in the first half. The Razorbacks dominated time of possession, with the majority of the match occurring on South Carolina’s defensive side. The loss to Arkansas marked South Carolina’s second match of the season without scoring a goal. Thanks to a postponement against Mississippi State, the Gamecocks haven’t put the ball in the back of the net since Sept. 22, when freshman Katie Shea Collins’ penalty kick was the sole score in a win against Kentucky.
Friday will be the Commodores’ fourth matchup against a ranked opponent this season, so they’ll have to keep a few things in mind if they want to exit the Plex victorious.
Eye on the front line
South Carolina boasts one of the best one-two scoring tandems in the SEC. Grad student Catherine Barry is in her fifth year with the Gamecocks and has already cemented herself as one of the best players in program history. The two-time All-SEC First Teamer currently leads her team in goals and points, as she’s done in all five years of her career. Barry is also tied for first in goals per game this season, despite being outside the top ten in shots. She’s one of the best players in the country, and if programs retired numbers, her No. 10 would be first on the list.
The other offensive threat for the Gamecocks is Collins. A Tennessee native, Collins is already a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week and began her career with a hat trick against Furman. Since then, Collins has recorded a point in over half her games and is trending toward an All-SEC Freshman selection. Though still early into her career, the 5’3” forward has shown flashes of an ability to fill Barry’s shoes as a franchise player for South Carolina.
If there’s any saving grace to this nightmare duo, it’s been their recent lack of production. The pair have only recorded two points in the last three games, with Collins’ previously mentioned penalty kick serving as the sole contributor. This lack of production can mean two things: They’re in a hefty slump, or either one (or both) could be due for a goal. Vanderbilt must always locate Barry and Collins because leaving either open — even for just a moment — gives them a golden chance to score. Keeping them off the board is the primary way to win this game.
Shots, shots, shots
This should go without saying, but Vanderbilt needs to dominate the shots battle. This is an easy correlation: the more shots you take, the better your chances are at scoring a goal. South Carolina, particularly, has fluctuated in its shots per game. In some games, The Gamecocks dominate the category — like when they put up 21 shots against Georgia State. In others, they don’t — against Arkansas, the Gamecocks only put up six shots (and just one in the first half). South Carolina has only won a single game when trailing in shots — a 2-1 victory against Georgia when they lost the shots battle 14-16, the closest margin in shots of any of their competitions this season.
More important to this argument is which keeper the shots are coming against. South Carolina has given the starting nod to Christina Tsaousis, who has had massive shoes to fill after former SEC Goalkeeper of the Year Heather Hinez graduated in May. Before this year, Tsaousis had only appeared in three games, all of which she played only one half. Tsaousis is having a great season, logging 32 saves with only nine goals allowed, highlighted by two shutouts through nine games. Her inexperience showed against Arkansas, though, when she conceded two goals in the first half — one on a screamer from outside the 18 yard box and one where she dropped the ball off a corner kick — leading to her sitting out the second half of that game.
Keeping the pressure up against an inexperienced goalie coming off of a poor showing should be a priority for Vanderbilt. Get shots on net, let Tsaousis try to make saves and force her into bad decisions. The Razorbacks were able to do it effectively, can the Commodores follow suit?
Set pieces and second chances
South Carolina’s worst mistake in the loss to Arkansas was its inability to clear the ball defensively. Fairly often, South Carolina would whiff or blunder on clearance attempts, resulting in the ball finding Arkansas players’ feet for scoring opportunities. This was especially true for set pieces like throw-ins and corner kicks when the ball ricocheted around the 18-yard box a few times before Arkansas put up a shot. Whether it was miscommunications, mental lapses or physical errors, South Carolina constantly put Arkansas in positions to score.
If Vanderbilt capitalizes on set pieces, it will possess a massive advantage. Pack the box with as many bodies as possible, get the ball right outside the 6-yard box and locate runaway bounces. As long as the ball finds a foot or head, that’s a chance to score. Some may call it luck, but I call it serendipity.
Secondly, take advantage of second chances. Arkansas’ first goal came from a failed clearance that found the foot of wide-open defender Ava Tankersley, who rocketed a laser to the top-right corner. That only happened because she pushed up and put herself in the opportunity to get a great shot. Vanderbilt needs to do the same: Keep the pressure up and anticipate the bad ball. From there, it’s just about taking one touch and shooting.
Overall, South Carolina presents yet another tough matchup for Vanderbilt, especially on a Friday night in front of the Commodore faithful. A win against the Gamecocks could give Vanderbilt the push it needs to surge through the remaining month of SEC play. With how close the Commodores have matched up in conference play this season, this clash could come down to one bounce going their way for a three-point Friday.
Vanderbilt is set to face South Carolina at the Plex on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. CDT.
