Undefeated Vanderbilt Soccer Tops SEC Draw

The Vanderbilt soccer program capped an undefeated regular season in a downpour on Sunday, Nov. 1. The Commodores pulled ahead with an early penalty kick and held off the South Carolina Gamecocks in a physical, messy match in Nashville, while Halloween candy, free scarves and two more Vandy goals kept fans happy in the miserable afternoon weather.

It was a decisive win for the nation’s top-ranked women’s soccer team. The 'Dores head to Florida for the SEC Tournament next week — and the NCAA tournament after that — with title aspirations.

A historic winning season for the soccer program adds to the current athletics golden age at Vanderbilt. Women’s sports, specifically, are climbing up national standings, with both volleyball and basketball programs squarely in title contention. Athletic director Candice Storey Lee, who took over in 2020 from longtime AD David Williams, has been candid about the returns that come from investing in women’s sports. She’s also spoken about how the university has navigated the NIL (name, image and likeness) era that followed court decisions allowing college athletes to profit from their play. Vanderbilt nixed its men’s soccer program in 2006, citing Title IX compliance. 

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Over a decade, Vanderbilt women’s soccer has built a nationally competitive reputation under head coach Darren Ambrose. The team won the SEC Tournament in 2020 and again last year before falling to TCU in overtime in the NCAA tournament quarterfinal.

This year’s squad dominates across the field. Vanderbilt players combined to win the “quadruple crown” of SEC awards: senior Sydney Watts won forward of the year, senior Courtney Jones won midfielder of the year, graduate student Alexa Gianoplus is conference goalkeeper of the year, and Ambrose won coach of the year. Three more teammates — Olivia Stafford, Margo Matula and Mary Beth McLaughlin — earned all-conference first-team honors. Jones netted the PK on Sunday to put the 'Dores up early, while Gianoplus secured the shutout with multiple critical saves. Ambrose used a deep rotation to keep players moving and fresh, spreading big game experience. 

It’s likely that Vanderbilt will run into South Carolina — ranked No. 12 in the nation and second in the SEC — again during tournament play. Sunday’s 3-0 win gives them a mental edge over a top rival and confidence for a postseason run. Teams head to North Carolina in mid-December for the NCAA tournament.