A dozen matches unbeaten to start the 2026 season has the Commodores ranked #1 by TopDrawerSoccer and living with a huge target on their chests and backs. Kentucky managed to, with some surface condition assistance, turn the match into a tense, cagey affair. The Wildcats did not exactly stifle the Commodores’ attacking intent. They did manage to minimize its effectiveness. Vanderbilt’s offense was only able to manage two goals, and the second goal was with 4 seconds left in the match when Kentucky had
committed all numbers forward in an attempt to salvage a draw.
The 2-0 Vanderbilt win carried and anxious air to it. The Wildcats were never particularly threatening, but it would have taken just one special moment or a disastrous slip for the underdogs to get the match tied. Thankfully, that moment never came.
It is probably fair to put some blame for the shooting inefficiency on the wet surface. The ball tends to spin and skip just a little different in those conditions. The possession and territory, as it has so often this season, advantage show how much pressure Vanderbilt puts their opponent under. Only allowing 6 shots and 4 corners is utterly stifling. It needed to be, too, because Kentucky’s corner kicks looked really dangerous. They were the only times the Wildcats did threaten.
The coolness of the evening along with it being a one-match weekend gave Coach Ambrose the freedom to keep his starters in the match for almost the entirety. Seeing Reagan Pentz back on the field is huge, but the knee brace/sleeve suggests she is going to be limited for the near future. Ally Bollig also did not dress, which is disappointing with her injury history.
Sydney Watts is a machine. She kept her goal scoring tear going. Her streak is back up to 4 after breaking a 7-match scoring streak against Georgia. Watts has scored 13 goals in 12 matches and also has 4 assists. The dynamic forward has managed to fire off 50 shots with 28 of them being on target. Getting 2.3 shots on target per match is good. Scoring 1.1 goals per game is wild. Lethal in front of goal and always dragging defenders with her movement, both to open herself and teammates up.
Mia Hebert impresses me more and more every match. The freshman partner for Watts has 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 matches. She has only played 205 minutes, so she has been involved in a goal every 41 minutes during her first season on campus. Teams are and will likely continue to struggle containing either/both of her and Watts. They both have enough speed to be dangerous, though Hebert is definitely not as blessed in that area. The intelligence of their runs and how they use their body to protect the ball from defenders and set themselves up for shots and passes is where they really set themselves up for success though.
It has probably been understated how good Mary Beth McLaughlin, Margo Matula, and Grace Freeman have been, too. Opposing teams have 9 goals through 12 matches, and 3 of them were scored by SMU in the opener. Opponents have only managed 75 shots (Remember how Watts has 50 shot attempts?) with only 35 on target. If you can make your goalkeeper only need to save 2.9 shots per game, you should expect to win much more often than not.
Speaking of which, Alexa Gianoplus has taken full control of Vanderbilt’s goalkeeper position after Layla Armas started the first two matches. She has been excellent and has a 0793 save percentage and 0.60 goals allowed per 90 minutes played. Armas had save percentage of 0.571 and a goals against per 90 of 1.50. It was not all her fault, directly, but there has been a clear shift in the defense’s comfort level after the change.
All of the good feelings go on the road to face a Missouri team that is 3-7-2 (0-4-1 SEC) in terms of W-L-D. Their 3 wins are at Murray State (3-1), versus Northern Illinois (4-0), and versus Southeast Missouri (5-0). They have tied with Western Kentucky in Bowling Green and Arkansas in Fayetteville. Losses to Saint Louis (Billikens!), Missouri State, and Creighton in the nonconference schedule did not portend good things against SEC opposition. Except for the draw at Arkansas, they have lost to Oklahoma (3-1 road), Kentucky (2-1 home), Auburn (2-0 home), and South Carolina (3-0 road).
Even though Missouri has held opponents to 15 goals in 12 matches, they have only scored 15 goals in 12 matches. Their most dangerous players are Canada Landis, Rylie Morse, and Lana Adams. That trio each has 3 goals and 1 assist. Emily Derucki and Brianna Buels have both scored twice without assisting. As tough as the 15 goals are, the 5 assists may be the most glaring number. Either their attackers are totally incapable of handling passes and turning them into quick shots, or they are completely bereft of players capable of playing the dangerous passes that turn into goals. To score, it has to be a solo effort or maybe even a defensive blunder.
The Yankee Tigers have a goalkeeping controversy of some sort. It could be due to injury. Kate Phillips started 15 matches in 2025, but she went 4-10-1. Her 0.720 save percentage does not seem like a problem, nor does the 1.400 goals against average. This season, she has been even btter at 0.786 save percentage and 1.333 GAA. She has only started 5 matches this season though. Riley Wilkerson has started 7 contests and posted a 1.219 GAA from a 0.728 save percentage. Wilkerson was in goal for the first two SEC matches then ceded the place to Phillips for the Auburn and South Carolina losses. Missouri turned back to Wilkerson to get the draw against Arkansas. Facing Vanderbilt’s attack is not the best way to figure out an unsettled, or uncomfortable if it is injury, goalkeeping situation.
Tonight’s kickoff in Columbia, Missouri, is coming up soon at 6 PM Central. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+. The Commodores are one of only four unbeatens remaining. Losing the unbeaten streak against Missouri would be a surprising result.
