Vanderbilt Soccer’s season ended on Nov. 29 with a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss at home to No. 2 TCU. The Commodores fell to the Horned Frogs only four days after a stunning 1-0 victory over No. 4 LSU, advancing them to the program’s first Elite Eight appearance. 

The Elite Eight is the furthest round the Commodores have ever reached in the NCAA Tournament, and Vanderbilt was ranked as one of four No. 1-seeds going into the tournament— another program first. This year’s monumental success built upon the momentum the Black and Gold garnered during the 2024 season when the team reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time under head coach Darren Ambrose’s leadership. 

“I’m just so happy for these guys, for this team, for these young women, for what they’ve poured into this,” Ambrose said after his team’s Sweet Sixteen win over LSU. “I don’t think I could be more proud of a group of people ever.” 

The 2025 season has ended for the Commodores, but they will start preparing for their 2026 chapter soon enough. However, this team deserves one final round of applause. Let’s examine what led to the enormous success of Vanderbilt Soccer this season and what lies ahead for the Commodores in 2026. 

Offensive excellence 

The Commodores’ offensive strength played a key role in their victory in both the SEC Championship and their advancement to the Elite Eight. Vanderbilt built upon its 2024 strategy of a 2-5-3 formation to pack the midfield in an attempt to generate more offensive output through increased passing options.  

Midfielder Courtney Jones executed this plan extremely well. The junior was an immense asset at the center of the field, ending her season with five assists and seven goals scored, including a masterful shot off a free kick in the Commodores’ decisive first-round match of the SEC Tournament against Alabama. Senior Vivian Akyirem also shook off defenders with ease throughout the season, most notably during Vanderbilt’s decisive 3-0 victory over Oklahoma. Akyirem was a new but integral piece of Ambrose’s team, providing a consistent spark off the bench for the ‘Dores. 

Junior Sydney Watts was Vanderbilt’s offensive powerhouse and undoubtedly key to the Commodores’ fantastic season. In early October, she was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. She was also awarded SEC Forward of the Year and named to the All-SEC First Team. The Kansas native scored 16 goals in the 2025 season, including the only goal scored during the Commodores’ Elite Eight matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs. With one more season of eligibility left, expect Watts to be a key returning piece of Vanderbilt’s offense next year. 

An iron wall 

The Vanderbilt defense acted as an insurmountable iron wall all season, refusing to let opposing attackers in. They were the stars of the 2025 season but were, at the same time, easy to overlook and taken for granted by the Commodore faithful. The defensive masterclass was led by goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko. The graduate student earned numerous accolades this season for her performance, including 2025 SEC Goalkeeper of the Year, 2025 SEC All-Tournament Team and 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team. She was the anchor behind the Black and Gold’s unstoppable defense with an 81.7% save percentage. Her stellar saves led to Vanderbilt’s first SEC Championship win in five years after a tense penalty shootout against LSU.  

Wojdelko said “team cohesion” made the Commodores’ defensive game so strong. This cohesion was evident from the excellent teamwork among members of the defense throughout the season. 

Senior Hannah McLaughlin, sophomore Mary Beth McLaughlin and junior Margo Matula exemplified the cohesive nature of this team, prioritizing communication on the playing field and anticipating plays effectively. 

Winning where it counts 

In an intense season playing against fierce competitors, the ‘Dores were able to secure decisive victories at critical moments. 

Vanderbilt faced LSU three times over the course of the season, adapting after each match. The first matchup occurred at home at the SEC regular-season opener and ended in a 0-0 draw after both teams failed to convert opportunities into goals. 

Learning from this game, the Commodores clinched a key victory over LSU in the SEC Championship game in a thrilling rematch that ended in penalty kicks. Vanderbilt created and executed opportunities unlike in the opener, with Akyirem tying up the match in the second half and forcing the game into overtime after seizing the opportunity to score off a shot by Jones deflected by LSU goalkeeper Audur Scheving.  

Vanderbilt faced LSU yet again in the Sweet Sixteen matchup in the NCAA Tournament. A stagnant start to the game with the first half ending in a 0-0 score added to fears of another draw, but a powerhouse kick from junior Melania Fullerton in the 65th minute finally put Vanderbilt on the scoreboard and secured its victory.  

What lies ahead for the 2026 season? 

After breaking records in the postseason in 2024 and again in 2025, the biggest question looming over Vanderbilt Soccer is if it will be able to build upon this momentum and break records yet again in 2026. However, the loss of key players threatens to shake up the Commodores’ streak of success. 

With the 2025 season being the last for Wojdelko, the Commodores will lose the core of their iron defense. Senior goalkeeper Alexa Gianoplus will also likely be leaving after this season, leading to major questions as to who the next starting goalie for the team will be. 

Star defensive player Hannah McLaughlin and forward Akyirem are both in their senior year and will also likely be departing. Both players were essential to the team this season, helping the Commodores soar to victory during difficult moments. 

Midfielders Ally Bollig, Maci Teater and Grace Freeman will also likely be leaving after the conclusion of the 2025 season, threatening Vanderbilt’s 2-5-3 formation heavily dependent upon the team’s midfield. 

At the same time, the team will return a core of players with crucial experience and knowledge of Ambrose’s system. First-year forwards Reagan Pentz and Olivia Stafford, who combined for 7 goals and 14 assists this season, will likely return. This is in addition to Watts and Jones, who will be entering their senior year for the Commodores and looking to leave another historic season behind them. 

The coaching staff has tough choices to make to continue Vanderbilt Soccer’s upward trajectory, but for now, the team will enjoy its final few moments in the spotlight before looking ahead to the 2026 season.