The 64-team bracket for the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament was announced on Nov. 11. Vanderbilt Soccer (9-3-6) will host Lipscomb in the first round of the single-elimination regional on Nov. 15. The Commodores were given the No. 8 seed for their region, marking the second time in program history the team has been seeded in the NCAA tournament.
Vanderbilt’s crosstown rival earned an automatic berth into the tournament after taking down Eastern Kentucky to win the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The Bisons enter Friday’s matchup on an 11-game unbeaten streak with an overall record of 14-3-4, including a signature 4-1 win over Ole Miss.
The Commodores picked up momentum towards the end of the regular season before crashing out in the first round of the SEC Tournament to Alabama. Head coach Darren Ambrose will have to make some adjustments ahead of this do-or-die match for his team.
Start Ella Eggleston
Ella Eggleston was a cornerstone of Vanderbilt’s offense last year but has seen a more limited role this season after suffering an injury against Belmont back in August. Still, the sophomore tallied seven points (three goals) in her last four appearances despite not starting a single contest. Ambrose may see Eggleston as an energetic spark off the bench, but after his team fell flat in the first half against Alabama, he might want to reconsider the forward’s role in the rotation.
The Commodores were left reeling after the Crimson Tide scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the SEC Tournament’s opening round. Vanderbilt’s lack of aggression allowed Alabama to control the rest of the game until Eggleston broke through with a goal in the 77th minute. On top of being a prolific goal scorer, Eggleston is also Vanderbilt’s most aggressive forward when pressing the ball. Her tenacity and athleticism frequently disrupt passes and force defensive ball-handling mistakes.
Eggleston must start if Vanderbilt wants to avoid replicating its first-round exit in the SEC Tournament. If the Commodores fail to bring the energy from the first whistle and pressure a team that is less familiar with Power Four competition, they’ll risk another disappointing postseason finish.
Keep Sara Wojdelko
This is not an adjustment, as Sara Wojdelko has started every game since Texas A&M on Oct. 10, but the senior goalkeeper is certainly Vanderbilt’s best option between the posts. Wojdelko was benched in favor of Kate Devine after allowing two goals in the first half of Vanderbilt’s first SEC game against Auburn. Over the next four games, Devine went 0-2-2 and allowed five goals. Ambrose went back to Wojdelko after a disappointing draw against South Carolina — which saw the Gamecocks score an 89th-minute equalizer — and she recorded a 4-0-1 record with three shutouts to close the regular season.
Ambrose may be tempted to swap Wojdelko for Devine once again after Vanderbilt’s loss to Alabama, but Wojdelko has rightfully earned the opportunity to start in the NCAA Tournament. Devine has allowed five goals in seven appearances, while Wojdelko has allowed seven in 14. On top of that, Wojdelko boasts a .833 save percentage compared to Devine’s .773. While Devine has produced some stellar performances over her five seasons with Vanderbilt, Wojdelko has clearly been the better keeper this season. Ambrose shouldn’t let recency bias get in the way.
Brace for impact
There will be a stampede on West End this Friday: The Bisons are on an 11-game unbeaten streak and have lots of momentum after out-scoring their opponents 10-1 in three ASUN Tournament games.
Like any good stampede, the danger lies in the numbers: Five of Lipscomb’s starters were awarded end-of-season conference honors. Senior Kiara Pralle — who won ASUN Player of the Year — will lead the charge. The forward totaled 16 goals, five of which were game-winners, and 2 assists this season. Two others were named to the ASUN All-Conference First Team: sisters Bella and Alivia Carapazza. The former is an attacking midfielder who has contributed four goals and nine assists this season, while the latter acts as a defensive anchor in the midfield.
Center back Lucy Ream started all 17 games this season and was named to the All-ASUN Second Team after being named to the second and third teams in 2023 and 2022, respectively. First-year goalkeeper Kaïna Caesar was selected to the All-Freshman Team after recording the most shutouts (9) in the ASUN this year.
Lipscomb’s lineup is exceptionally well-rounded, with standouts at every level. There are no clear shortcomings, so the Commodores will need to be at the top of their game to sustain the impact of the charging Bisons. The adjustments above will be key to counteracting the stampede.
Vanderbilt Soccer will host Lipscomb for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. CST.
