No. 1-seeded Vanderbilt Soccer (17-3-2, 7-2-1 SEC) hosted No. 8-seeded Clemson (8-6-5, 4-4-2 ACC) on Nov. 21 for the Round of 32 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The match occurred one day later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather the day before, which rained out the two matchups scheduled to be played at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
Vanderbilt conceded an early goal to the Tigers on a penalty kick in the first minute. After that, though, the Commodores largely dominated Clemson, outshooting them 10-to-3 and gaining 8 corners to the Tigers’ 2. Despite this, the Commodores failed to tally a goal and headed into the locker room facing a one-goal deficit.
It didn’t take long into the second half for Vanderbilt to not only tie the game at one-apiece, but take the lead. The ‘Dores first goal was scored by SEC Forward of the Year Sydney Watts, assisted by Maci Teater, where Watts found the bottom right corner of the net — in the 54th minute. Just two minutes later, the Commodores took the lead on a goal from Mary Beth McLaughlin. Clemson retaliated with a second-half goal of its own, scoring on another penalty kick from Anna Castenfelt, which was awarded to the Tigers on a Commodore handball. Regulation ended with the score still tied 2-2, forcing the game into a sudden-victory overtime period.
Ultimately, the ‘Dores prevailed in the second overtime period on a game-winning goal from Adysen Armenta. With the win, Vanderbilt advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in as many years.
“[I’m] incredibly proud of the fight [the team displayed],” Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose said. “All year when we’ve asked something of this team they have responded no matter what. They didn’t lose their heads when we went down a goal; they showed the character that they have [and came out with a win].”
First half
Vanderbilt started with some speed but midfielder Courtney Jones was stripped of the ball by Clemson’s defense, who promptly transitioned to offense. Natalie Brooks — the Tigers left forward — who sped down her sideline. Brooks, contested by Margo Matula, fell in the box and the ball went over the end line. After video review, it was determined that Matula had fouled Brooks and the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick. The penalty kick, taken by Renee Lyles, was a beauty. It sailed past Vanderbilt goalie Sara Wojdelko and into the back of the net, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Ally Bollig logged the first shot on goal for the Commodores, rebounding a pass that was dispossessed from Watts and promptly shooting it from just outside the box. The attempt was unsuccessful, though, as Addy Holgorsen, the Tigers’ goalie, got down on the top of the shot. Play was briefly stopped in the 13th minute when Olivia Stafford was elbowed in the face and had to leave the game. Vanderbilt was awarded a free kick at the restart in their attacking third. They promptly earned a corner kick followed by another but failed to capitalize on either. The Commodores gained another free kick in the 17th minute, from almost the same spot, after Jones was fouled by Jolie Jenkins. The free kick sailed into the box and caught the head of Stafford but the attempt sailed over the crossbar.
Vanderbilt’s next opportunity came when Grace Freeman attempted a crossing pass for the ‘Dores from the left side, which was stopped by the Clemson defense but earned the Black and Gold a corner kick. The corner attempt from Jones sailed high and to the far post with Stafford getting a foot on it; however, the touch ricocheted off the post. The Black and Gold’s press forced the Tigers into a midfield turnover on a switch of the field attempt that was picked off by Stafford. As the first year raced off down the right side, she was met by the Tigers’ defense, passing the ball back to the high center. She found Teater, who rocketed a shot on goal. Holgorsen caught the shot attempt for her third save of the night, keeping the Commodores off the board.
Clemson earned its first real offensive opportunity of the half, since the penalty kick, on a free kick from about 10 yards off the left side of the box. The attempt went well right of the goal, though, with Vanderbilt’s defense letting it sail over the end line. The first half of play concluded with the Tigers holding a 1-0 lead despite the Commodores largely dominating both statistically and in possession time.
Second half
Vanderbilt started the first four minutes of the second half primarily on defense. After holding off Clemson, the two teams largely traded possessions in the middle third of the field. Vanderbilt got a chance, though, on a breakaway ball on the right side. Realizing it did not have the numbers, the ball was worked back around the midfield. Several passes later, Teater got a pass to Watts, who received the ball with her back to the goal but was able to turn and send the ball sailing into the bottom right corner of the goal. The goal from Watts, knotted the score at one apiece. Just two minutes later — in the 56th minute — the Commodores added another goal, this time from Mary Beth McLaughlin. On a corner kick by the ‘Dores the ball found McLaughlin’s foot and then the back of the net, her second goal in as many games.
Clemson fought back, though, notching the score back up at two apiece in the 64th minute on another penalty kick, awarded to Clemson after a play in the box was reviewed by the umpires and was ruled a handball on Bollig. It was Anna Castenfelt who stepped up to the line this time, hammering it home and tying the game 2-2. The game, as it had been all along, remained scrappy between the two teams. Ambrose exchanged some words with the umpire and the Vanderbilt bench was awarded a yellow card.
Jones took a shot on goal from the top of the box in the 77th minute that barely missed the left post, bailing out the diving Nona Reason, the new Clemson goalie who entered in the second half for the Tigers. Another big opportunity came for the Commodores with five minutes left in the game when Teater perfectly threaded the needle between two Clemson defenders to find an incoming Watts. Watts was unable to get a handle on the ball, however, and the Tigers’ defense cleared it wide. Armenta took a shot from deep in the left corner for the Commodores, which bounced off the crossbar of the goal. Teater was awarded a yellow card on the play, which was reviewed for a handball. After the review, the play was ruled clean and the clock ticked down, signaling the game would go to a sudden-victory overtime period
Overtime periods
Vanderbilt started the overtime period on offense, quickly logging a shot and gaining a corner kick. The Clemson defense remained steadfast on these attempts but the Commodores continued to push. They gained another corner kick in the 95th minute and the Clemson offense was able to get a breakaway on the clear. Jones quickly thwarted any offensive opportunity for the Tigers on a beautifully executed slide tackle to dispossess the Tigers in Vanderbilt’s offensive 50. Vivian Akyriem got the Black and Gold’s most open look of the night when Clemson’s backfield sent an errant transfer pass, but the shot from Akyriem went high and over the goal. After both teams battled for possession in the second overtime period, the game was finally decided. In the 106th minute, Armenta The game was finally decided in the 106th minute when Armenta ripped a shot from the top of the box, finding the back of the net and giving her team a 3-2 win.
Vanderbilt will face LSU in the Sweet 16 on Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. CDT at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
