Vanderbilt Soccer (12-3-1) took down No. 4 Tennessee (11-2-3), 2-0, on Sunday afternoon in its final home game of the regular season. Both Reagan Pentz and Sydney Watts found the back of the net in the 8th and 81st minutes, respectively, while the Commodores’ defense successfully contained an impressive Tennessee offense. The victory extended Vanderbilt’s conference win streak to five.
“We just beat our state rival, [a] top five team in the country,” head coach Darren Ambrose said postgame. “I’m thrilled. I’m absolutely beside myself happy. I’m proud of our kids [and] proud of our staff.”
First half
Vanderbilt got things started with the ball first, but Tennessee immediately went on the attack as Reese Mattern had an early shot to test Vanderbilt’s defense. The Commodores did a solid job of finding open lanes to clear the ball, though, as the ball bounced between the halves of the field in the opening minutes.
Vanderbilt went on the attack in the 8th minute, streaking down midfield into the right side of Tennessee’s box. Olivia Stafford then hit a beautiful cross across the box to Raegan Pentz, who headed the ball into the back of the net. The Commodores had taken a 1-0 lead just 8:56 into the game.
Tennessee clearly took that opening goal to heart, as it went back on offense immediately. Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko lodged three consecutive saves to maintain the Commodores’ lead. All the shots on goal occurred in a three-minute span — from the 16th to 19th minutes — as Wojdelko made several incredible blocks and grabs.
Watts then found herself with control of the ball inside Tennessee’s box and launched a rocket from the edge. It nailed the crossbar at full steam, bouncing straight to a Volunteer defender. It was an unbelievably close attempt as Vanderbilt tried to stretch its lead with 22 minutes remaining in the half.
Tennessee’s Sarah Kate Rath received an excellent thru ball on the other end, facing Wojdelko one-on-one on the right side of the box. The veteran goalkeeper attacked Rath, though, forcing her to miss high as the Commodores fended off another attempt.
After the goal kick, Mac Midgley drove to the net, juking out three Vanderbilt defenders en route to the box. A Vanderbilt player knocked the ball away, saving yet another close call. Both sides traded possessions, launching several off-target shots near the end of the half. Vanderbilt Vivian Akyirem had a solid look from outside the box, but she missed it wide right as time dwindled.
Pentz’s sole goal in the first half put the Commodores ahead, 1-0, despite Vanderbilt having no other shots on goal. Tennessee hit four shots on goal through 45 minutes, showing just how effective Wojdelko was in the first half at stopping an impressive Volunteer attack.
Second half
Vanderbilt got the ball to start the second half and kept its foot on the gas. The team earned a corner kick just a minute into play, but it amounted to nothing, as the ball sailed off target to give Tennessee keeper Cayden Norris a goal kick.
Both teams traded possessions in the early minutes of the half, before Grace Freeman found a hole on the left edge of the box. She fired a shot right into the arms of Norris, who blocked yet another Commodore attempt.
The Commodores were not fazed by these early setbacks, as they continued their offensive assault, racking up another shot on goal — this time from Watts. It wasn’t quite placed well enough as Norris easily grabbed the hard-hit shot with 35 minutes remaining in the half.
Vanderbilt’s defense — led by Margo Matula and the McLaughlin sisters — continued to shine as the 65th minute arrived, not allowing a single shot on goal in the second half. Meanwhile, Ally Bollig, Ellet Smith and Akyirem each lodged a shot on the other end of the field — Bollig’s of which was on goal.
Midgley finally earned the Volunteers’ first shot on goal of the second half at the 71:41 mark, but it went directly to Wojdelko who grabbed the ball and threw it to a teammate.
The Commodores then went into goal prevention mode, hoping to keep the Volunteers at bay for the remaining 15 minutes of the game. It didn’t quite pan out at first, as Midgley once again rocketed a shot just high of the goal.
Vanderbilt’s offense didn’t just sleep, though. Watts broke free in the 81st minute after a beautiful move to beat the defender, passing one by Norris to make it 2-0.
The Commodores successfully weathered the storm the rest of the way, surrendering only one further shot on goal which went directly to Wojdelko. The clock finally hit triple zeroes, and Vanderbilt emerged from its final regular season home game unscathed.
The ‘Dores collected a higher number of total shots than the Volunteers, outshooting them 17-12. The Commodores’ defense was also stellar as they gave up just two shots on goal in the entire second half.
Vanderbilt will next hit the road to play South Carolina on Oct. 26 at 2:00 p.m. CDT.
