In a clash between the top 2 teams in the Southeastern Conference soccer standings, the already-clinched champion Commodores left no doubts about who is the SEC’s dominant force. With Vanderbilt chasing an undefeated season and perfect 10-0-0 home record, South Carolina was in a battle for seeding in the SEC tournament. The Gamecocks got lucky as both Alabama, who were tied with South Carolina, and Arkansas, who were 3 points back, lost. South Carolina was able to hold on to their #2 seed.
Vanderbilt
made their guests stare defeat in the eyes early. A flurry in the South Carolina penalty area in the 13th minute included a desperation sliding challenge by Gamecock goalkeeper Christina Tsaousis. Play was allowed to go on but was halted shortly to initiate a video review that determined a foul had occurred. Courtney Jones stepped up for the penalty kick and buried it. Her PKs are nearly automatic at this point.
The scoring would be quiet for almost exactly 60 minutes of game time. Regrettably, the game was loud in other ways. Jones would be forced to leave the game less than 3 minutes later when an aggressive challenge for a ball in the air left her crumpled with an apparent head injury. The exact severity is not publicly known and her availability for the SEC Tournament remains in doubt, though Aria Gerson with the Tennessean has stated that Coach Ambrose is hopeful she will be cleared to play.
A few minutes later, South Carolina had their own injury scare. In a battle with Mary Beth McLaughlin, an attacker lost footing on the slick surface and appeared to have her knee buckle.
Outside of the injuries, Vanderbilt controlled the game. The Commodores owned an 8 to 3 shots advantage at halftime. That split along with the 4 to 1 lead in shots on goal shows which team could get into position to threaten the opposing goalkeeper. The teams having 10 combined fouls split 6 to 4 is indicative of how intense the match was. The soaking wet conditions only emboldened each team to send tackles flying in at every possibility.
The second half took some time to work up, but Vanderbilt found separation through a lightning-quick pair of goals. First, Margo Matula scored one of her patented “toe poke a ball that hits the floor in a post-corner scrum” goals. Then 3 minutes later in the 75th minute Lydia Ungashick rose up to head a corner into the Gamecock goal.
That was the end of the scoring, and the game settled a bit with the result all but decided. The rain had also subsided during halftime, so some of the slipping and sliding came under control.
We finally get possession stats back, and it was a strong game against great opposition. As a reminder, South Carolina was allowing just 10.6 shots per match and 3.6 shots on goal per match. The Gamecocks had only allowed 3 goals in the first 9 matches of SEC play then Vanderbilt scored 3 in this match. It was not a flashy offensive display, but it was an effective one against a stout defense.
Defensively, Vanderbilt snuffed out most every attack before it offered too much threat.
Both teams were willing to go deep into their benches, especially late in the match. None of Vanderbilt’s dangerous forwards were able to notch a goal, but the midfield and a center back found their opportunities on set pieces and sealed the match.
After Jones went down injured, the midfield pairing of Ungashick and Ally Bollig-Agu locked it down. Depending on Jones’s availability, it will be interesting to see if Coach Ambrose goes with that pairing to start or if he uses other options. He could choose to have Reagan Pentz start in Jones’s place or even move Lena Tusche into the starting XI. Tusche’s position at the club and international level has been central midfield. I am not sure if she tends to to play in a more attacking or box-to-box role though.
The Commodores have now made the trip to Pensacola, Florida. The SEC Soccer Tournament kicked off on Sunday with 4 matches. Seeds 5 through 12 all had to do battle in the opening round while 1-seed Vanderbilt, 2-seed South Carolina, 3-seed Alabama, and 4-seed Kentucky got to sit back and watch. The lower seed won 3 of the 4 matches with 10-seed Georgia, 11-seed LSU, and 9-seed Texas advancing along with 5-seed Arkansas. Vanderbilt will take on Texas.
The Commodores and Longhorns met back on October 23rd. Vanderbilt won that contest 5-0 and clinched the SEC title in the process. It was a game where the Commodores put their full strength on display by outshooting Texas 18 (15 on goal) to 5 (2). Corner kicks were 4 to 1 in Vanderbilt’s favor, too. The goals were scored by Melania Fullerton in the 14th minute, Lydia Ungashick in the 44th minute, Mia Hebert in the 57th minute, Margo Matula in the 72nd minute, and Sydney Watts in the 75th minute.
Since then, Texas had a scoreless draw at home against Auburn then started the SEC Tournament by having another scoreless draw against Mississippi State. The match would go without a goal through regulation and both overtime periods. The Longhorns prevailed in round 6 of the penalty shootout when the Bulldogs had their attempt go off the upright and out before the Longhorns went post-and-in to advance.
Today’s match is scheduled for a 4:30 PM Central kickoff but could be pushed back if either or both of the 2 earlier matches go to extra time or even penalty kicks. The match will be broadcast on SEC Network and be available to stream from WatchESPN. Texas will surely be trying to avenge the previous drubbing and make a statement for NCAA Tournament inclusion. The Longhorns are currently 33rd in RPI and with 31 automatic bids they are likely on the bubble. I cannot claim to know enough about women’s soccer selection history to know how comfortable they should be.
Vanderbilt is in the race for the #1 overall seed though. They were 2nd to North Carolina in the October 24th D1 Committee’s Top 16. The Commodores need to have a good weekend on the beach to battle into that #1 spot.
