Vanderbilt Soccer Goes Undefeated
The Commodores beat South Carolina to secure the SEC regular season title and advance to the tournament.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Vanderbilt women's soccer finished its regular season without a loss.
The No. 1 ranked Commodores defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 3-0 on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Nashville. Rain fell throughout the match, creating physical conditions that fans endured with free scarves and Halloween treats. Courtney Jones converted an early penalty kick to give Vanderbilt the lead. Alexa Gianoplus recorded a shutout with several key saves to seal the result.
The victory secures the regular season title for the team. Vanderbilt travels to Florida for the SEC Tournament next week. The squad will then face the NCAA tournament in mid-December. The program holds high hopes for a national championship.
This season extends a strong decade for the team under head coach Darren Ambrose. Vanderbilt won the SEC Tournament in 2020 and again in the previous year. The team lost to TCU in overtime during the NCAA quarterfinals last season. The university discontinued its men's soccer program in 2006 for Title IX compliance.
The current squad earned every major SEC individual award this year. Senior Sydney Watts won forward of the year. Senior Courtney Jones took midfielder of the year. Graduate student Alexa Gianoplus is the conference goalkeeper of the year. Coach Ambrose received the coach of the year honor. Olivia Stafford, Margo Matula, and Mary Beth McLaughlin also earned first-team all-conference nods.
Athletic director Candice Storey Lee took the role in 2020. She succeeded David Williams as head of athletics. Storey Lee has discussed the financial returns from investing in women's sports. She has also addressed the university's approach to the name, image and likeness era. Other Vanderbilt women's teams, including volleyball and basketball, currently contend for national titles.
South Carolina enters the tournament as the No. 12 ranked team in the nation and the second seed in the SEC. The Commodores are likely to face the Gamecocks again in postseason play. The 3-0 win provides a confidence boost against a top rival.
