The forwards are up last as we go through the 2025 Vanderbilt soccer roster. These are also typically the last pieces of the soccer puzzle to fit together just right. Breaking down quality defenses requires loads of skill, intelligence, and chemistry. The first 2 should not be in short supply, but chemistry can take time with new pieces. It is not just a new striker either because they need service and support from the midfielders, who we already covered as having 3 new starters.
Rachel Deresky was
one of the four Commodores in the 1,500-minute club that is gone from the roster. She was 3rd on the team in goals at 6 and tied with Teater for 1st in assists at 6. Mia Gonzalez also played 457 minutes across 18 matches and scored twice. The good news is that thanks to having Sydney Watts (9G 1A) and Ella Eggleston (3G 2A) back Vanderbilt keeps 12 of the 20 goals from forwards in 2024. They do only have 3 of the 9 assists back.
So who can be expected to fill the voids?
Electric Incumbent
Sydney Watts is lethal when she gets a look on goal. She scored 9 times from 47 shot attempts for a 19.1% conversion rate, and she did that by putting over half (24 of the 47 attempts) on target. Her goals can come from different types of attacks, too. Whether it is sprinting onto a through ball behind defenders, ghosting into a quiet pocket for a cutback or cross in the box, or being an aerial threat, Watts can threaten opposing defenders and goalkeepers in a number of ways. She dunked a header on Bowling Green with a defender left staring up at her in awe.
The junior striker is not exceptionally fast or tall. She is adequate in both categories but does not stand out. She gets the ball into the net by being smart with her athletic abilities while exhibiting a fantastic first touch and ball control complemented by surprising strength that makes dispossessing her a chore for any defender. Watts should continue her scoring ways and allow whoever replaces Deresky beside her to have just a bit more space as defenses shift to number 15.
Speed Demon
Ella Eggleston is a perfect replacement for Deresky, but she did not appear against BGSU. I am not sure what her status is going forward. She is the perfect partner stylistically for Watts since Eggleston offers the elite athleticism that will give defenders fits while allowing Watts to find free space.
Eggleston is plenty dangerous on her own. She has scored 8 goals and assisted 4 more goals in her first two seasons on West End. Her time has been split between striker, wide midfielder, and central attacking mid. I think Vanderbilt is best when she is at striker or CAM. She also has a powerful shot that can punish defenders who give her cushion to protect against her pace. Whatever the coaches plan to do with Eggleston this season, the sooner she can be available the sooner this team can be at full power.
Swath of Newcomers
Susanna Soderman started all 18 matches in 2024 for Villanova and had 7 goals and 3 assists. She led the Wildcats in goals (next player only had 3) and was 2nd for assists (leader had 1 more at 4). That output earned her a spot on the All-Big East First Team. She made 33 appearances with 16 starts (15 as a freshman) between 2023 and 2021 while not appearing in any matches in 2022. She did not particularly impress or disappoint in the exhibition, but refer above to the chemistry point to start the preview. It should be noted she also is listed as a midfielder/forward, so some minutes at CAM or wide midfield might be in the cards. Whether she starts or not, Soderman will be an important piece to the Commodore attack this season.
Freshman Olivia Stafford started 2 of the 3 periods against BGSU. Whether that was because she is ahead of Soderman on the depth chart or because she is a freshman that needs more minutes against college competition. Stafford did some little things that I enjoyed and did not look out of place on a college field. She did not flash in a way that made me think she was a must-start player either. It will be interesting to see how she is deployed early in the season.
Vicky Pugh, Ellett Smith, and Caitlin Chase are a trio of freshman forwards (Pugh is listed as a Midfielder, too) who I did not see much of against BGSU. Vanderbilt does not have their recruiting rankings on their bios yet, and that information is all buried behind paywalls when it comes to soccer. Any of them offering enough to earn minutes will be icing on the cake with the other player who can play forward ahead of them.
The forward group is talented. I am not sure if any one player can replicate the dynamic attacking runs, both on and off the ball, of Deresky, but I think this group can have more depth to bring on fresh legs while maintaining a high level of danger for opponents. The extent of that will depend on when Eggleston is healthy along with what Vanderbilt gets out of the 4 freshmen.
