For the first time in conference play, Vanderbilt performed up to their standard against an outmatched opponent. The scoreless draw with LSU, loss at Texas, and 1-0 win over Auburn were all chances to stamp out opponents decisively, but the Commodores were 1-1-1 in those matches. The standard was met against Missouri with a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes then dominance on the field, albeit without another goal, for the duration of the match. Missouri could not point to any moment where they
meaningfully threatened to get back into the match.
The first half was even more lopsided with a 69-31 possession split and shot attempts going 11 to 3 in Vanderbilt’s favor. Shots on goal in the first 45 were 6 to 1. Only winning 2-0 was a bit disappointing based on the way the Commodores controlled the game, but Missouri accepted their fate after the second goal and bunkered back while making almost no attempt to attack. The weakness for this Vanderbilt team is when other teams park the bus and defend by always having a numbers advantage. The wide play is not quite dynamic enough to win 1v1 consistently and pull defenders wide.
Everybody had a look at goal. The only players who do not play CB or GK to not take a shot were Victoria Pugh and Melania Fullerton. Fullerton usually has a quick trigger and has the ability to unload with power from distance, so that is a bit surprising. Only 1 shot, taken by Ally Bollig was from a questionable distance, and that strike actually had the crossbar rattling from what would have been an #SCTop10 nominee if it had dipped and curled about 6 more inches. The patience to get inside before shooting likely kept the score at 2-0 instead of having some open looks from distance pull out defenders or find the back of the net.
Now in a tie for 5th with their next opponent Mississippi State, Vanderbilt is 1 point out of a tie for the coveted 4th spot (top 4 seeds in SEC tournament get a bye) and only 3 points off the tie between Arkansas and Tennessee for the league’s regular season title. A win tonight will keep them in the hunt with Tennessee and South Carolina (3rd and a point off the league leaders) left to play.
The Bulldogs are 9-3-1 (4-2-1) so far in 2025. They toppled Wake Forest, who was #10 and is tied for #17, 2-1 at home. They also dropped a 2-0 contest to Baylor in Waco. The Bears were unranked then but have risen to #10 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. In SEC play, State has beaten Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, and Ole Miss. The Texas and Missouri wins were on the road, too. They tied Auburn 1-1 and lost at Arkansas (4-2) and Florida (2-1). Those 2 losses are their most recent results, so it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back. Florida is only 2-3-2 against conference competion, so it was a disappointing result for Mississippi State in Gainesville.
The Bulldogs have 2 standout goal scorers I Ally Perry and Zoe Main, who have 7 and 5 goals, respectively. Perry also has 6 assists to lead the team. She also has scored 6 of her 7 goals against conference foes.
Laila Murillo and Kyra Taylor each have 3 goals, but they only have 3 goals combined against SEC foes. The leader for the Bulldogs in SEC assists is Adia Symmonds at 3 then there is the trio of Perry, Tatu Borman, and Kara Harris at 2 each. Symmonds had 4 assists before conference play started, too.
In goal, Sarah Wommack has played all but 50 minutes for the Bulldogs. She has allowed 14 goals for a 1.13 GAA. Wommack has saved 39 of the 53 shots on goal for a 0.736 SV%.
Mississippi State only allows 8.8 shot attempts per game to help Wommack out. The back line is led by Hannah Jibril who leads field players at 1,083 minutes played. Her normal partners are Naila Schoefberger (902 MP), Ella Petersen (856 MP), Kennedy Husbands (764 MP). That unit is clearly working cohesively.Vanderbilt will try to extend their winning streak to 3 tonight at 6 PM Central from the MSU Soccer Field in Starkville, Mississippi. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.
