Soccer Preview and Gamethread: LSU (NCAAT Third Round)

It was a nervy Friday night on West End as Vanderbilt’s soccer team was fighting to reach not just their second Round of Sixteen in a row but also their second ever. The Commodores were immediately under pressure as a Clemson attacker got into the box then went down very easily under what appeared, both live and on the replays I could see in the stadium, to be a fair challenge by the Vanderbilt defender. The referee initially agreed then took a long time under Video Review to determine a penalty should be given. Renee Lyles stepped up for Clemson and put the Tigers ahead only 47 seconds into the contest.

That scoreline would hold through the first half. Vanderbilt was heavily in control though, so a goal felt inevitable. After 45 minutes, Vanderbilt had outshot Clemson 10 to 3, but shots on goal were only 3 to 2 in the Dores favor. The hosts also had a massive advantage in corner kicks taken at 8 to 2. Unfortunately, most of them were from the goalkeeper’s left. Both Courtney Jones and Maci Teater, Vanderbilt’s primary corner takers, are right footed, so they were the typically less dangerous outswinging variety.

Ten minutes into the second half the most likely culprit struck. After being largely denied the ball in the first half to the tune of 1 shot attempted, Sydney Watts received the ball with her back to a defender and the goal. She took one touch to her left, pivoted, and fired the ball into the lower right corner of the goal beyond a diving Nona Reason, who replaced Addy Holgersen at halftime as was Clemson’s tradition.

The tie did not last a full two minutes as yet another Commodore corner kick looked on its way to being cleared. The Clemson defender mishit her clearance, and the ball was left in the middle of the box for Mary Beth McLaughlin to lash into the back of the net.

With how the match was going, the one goal lead seemed much more likely to grown than be pulled back to square. It looked possible that would happen on a penalty kick when the referee went to the monitor to review a potential Clemson foul in the penalty area. It looked like a soft foul to me, but the standard set by the first minute award meant this should have been a chance for the Commodores to double the lead. The official disagreed.

Clemson only had three attempts towards Sara Wojdelko in Vanderbilt’s goal for the entire second half. The second one struck the arm of a Vanderbilt defender in the box a bit away from her body. Like the incident in the first minute, the referee initially did not award a penalty but would eventually review the play and award the spot kick. This PK was converted by Anna Castenfelt. It was the last shot attempt Clemson registered in the match.

Neither team could find a regulation winner. Vanderbilt had 3 shot attempts to Clemson’s 0 in the final 25 minutes of the match. Only 1 was on target, and it required a full extension save to prevent Courtney Jones from being a regulation hero.

Through the first 10-minute OT period, the Commodores put another trio of shots goalwards, but none of them were even on target. Vanderbilt stayed in full control and was just probing away at Clemson to find their next opportunity. They had another pair of corners in both OT periods.

Finally, a play went their way. Reagan Pentz skewed a cross that went towards goal instead of towards a waiting teammate. Reason had to punch it away from goal and behind for a corner kick. Much like the second Commodore goal, this one was initially defended, but it only made it to the top of the penalty area. Adysen Armenta was there, and she fizzed a shot right along the ground through a crowd of bodies that deceived the goalkeeper and sent the Commodores back to the Round of Sixteen without needing the penalty shootout to do it.

Clemson deserves credit for how they kept Vanderbilt from getting into too many dangerous areas with the ball. It was a lot of crossing , corners, and shots from distance for the Commodores.

Coach Ambrose may need to use his bench significantly more in today’s match. Olivia Stafford in particular looked like she was wearing down. She was largely unable to cause her typical amount of trouble and appeared to be missing her burst through the second half and overtime.

Armenta was on for her when she scored, so there are options out wide that can play effective minutes even if the on-ball threat is not quite as high. A laboring Stafford was not up to her usual danger either. After only two days off, getting a few minutes to recover can be more valuable than keeping your best players on the field for every minute.

Changing up the on-field personnel and tactics may be especially fruitful today against an opponent Vanderbilt has faced twice already with both results in as draws. The first match was scoreless in Nashville on September 12th. The second was 1-1 through 110’ on November 9th, so it goes as a draw officially. Vanderbilt was crowned SEC champions that day thanks to Sara Wojdelko’s heroics in a penalty kick shootout that was 8-7 in the Dores’ favor.

LSU has been powered by the usual suspects. Sariyah Bailey scored twice in the 4-1 win over Houston Christian to open the NCAA Tournament. Ida Hermannsdottir and Gabbi Ceballos each tallied with Ava Amsden having the only recorded assist. Hermannsdottir scored another goal, a PK, against Iowa and was joined by Ava Galligan in the 2-1 victory. Sydney Cheesman assisted on Galligan’s goal.

Audur Scheving started in goal for both games, as she has both times the Tigers and Commodores have faced off this season. Sophine Kevorkian played the 2nd half against Houston Christian but did not see the field against Iowa.

Today’s early afternoon kickoff on West End will likely create a disappointing atmosphere. This match will be the final one on campus regardless of outcome as the NCAA Tournament shifts to Kansas City, Missouri for the rest of the tournament. Tickets for the 2 PM Central kickoff are available through Vanderbilt here. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ here. My commentary will be limited since my real job will prevent me from giving the match much, if any, attention live.