Darren Ambrose on Vanderbilt soccer’s NCAA first-round win
Here’s what Darren Ambrose said about Vanderbilt soccer’s NCAA first-round win coming off an SEC tournament victory.
A historic season for Vanderbilt soccer ended one game short of the College Cup.
The Commodores (18-4-2) lost 2-1 in overtime to TCU in the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament on Nov. 29 at Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The Horned Frogs (18-2-3) advance to the College Cup Dec. 5 in Kansas City, Missouri, where they’ll face Florida State in the national semifinals.
Sydney Watts scored off a cross from Vivian Akyirem in the 77th minute to give Vanderbilt the lead. But TCU answered with four minutes left in regulation when Emma Yolinsky found the net.
Vanderbilt committed a foul in the penalty box five minutes into sudden-death overtime, and Sydney Becerra beat Sara Wojdelko to score the golden goal and win the game for the Horned Frogs.
The Commodores lost despite outshooting TCU 31-8, taking 10 shots on goal to the Horned Frogs’ three and attempting 10 corner kicks to TCU’s two.
Vanderbilt was playing in the Elite Eight for the first time in program history after it beat LSU 1-0 in the Sweet Sixteen on Nov. 24. TCU, which was playing in its second Elite Eight, advanced to the College Cup for the first time.
Watch Vanderbilt vs. TCU on ESPN+
Vanderbilt vs. TCU live score updates
After late goals by Vanderbilt’s Sydney Watts and TCU’s Emma Yolinsky, the last match of the Elite Eight will go to sudden-death overtime.
TCU finds the net in the 86th minute to tie the game at 1-1. Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko punched away a free kick, but the Horned Frogs’ Emma Yolinsky got to the rebound and scored to potentially send the game to overtime.
It took nearly the entire game but Vanderbilt finally has the first goal on its 28th shot attempt. Sydney Watts scores on a back-heel finish to put the Commodores on top with 13 minutes to play.
The second half has started out much like the first. Vanderbilt has taken seven shots to TCU’s zero through the first 15 minutes out of halftime but has been unable to score.
Despite a massive advantage in shots and possession, Vanderbilt hasn’t been able to break through TCU’s defense and goes into halftime of its Elite Eight game tied at 0-0.
Vanderbilt and TCU are still scoreless, though the Commodores have had many more chances to take the lead during the game’s first half-hour. They’ve taken 12 shots (four on goal) to the Horned Frogs’ two and five corner kicks to TCU’s zero.
TCU’s Olivia Geller has kept Vanderbilt off the board with a pair of diving saves, including a stop of first team All-SEC forward Sydney Watts, the Commodores’ leading scorer.
It’s cold and rainy in Nashville with kickoff just 10 minutes away as Vanderbilt and TCU vie for a spot in the College Cup. Neither the Commodores or Horned Frogs have ever made it past the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
What time does Vanderbilt vs. TCU soccer start?
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Vanderbilt Soccer Complex, Nashville
What TV channel is Vanderbilt vs. TCU soccer on today?
Vanderbilt soccer schedule 2025
- Aug. 14: W 7-0 vs. Austin Peay
- Aug. 17: W 2-0 vs. Louisville
- Aug. 21: W 6-0 at Tennessee Tech
- Aug. 24: L 1-0 at Memphis
- Aug. 29: W 2-1 vs. Yale
- Sept. 4: W 1-0 vs. Georgetown
- Sept. 7: W 1-0 at Middle Tennessee State
- Sept. 12: T 0-0 vs. LSU*
- Sept. 18: L 1-0 at Arkansas*
- Sept. 21: W 3-0 vs. Oklahoma*
- Sept. 26: L 2-1 at Texas*
- Oct. 2: W 1-0 vs. Auburn*
- Oct. 5: W 2-1 at Kentucky*
- Oct. 10: W 2-0 vs. Missouri*
- Oct. 16: W 5-1 at Mississippi State*
- Oct. 19: W 2-0 vs. Tennessee*
- Oct. 26: W 1-0 at South Carolina*
- Nov. 4: W 2-1 vs. Alabama**
- Nov. 6: W 2-0 vs. Georgia**
- Nov. 9: T 1-1 (W 8-7 on penalties) vs. LSU**
- Nov. 14: W 2-0 vs. Tennessee Tech***
- Nov. 21: W 3-2 vs. Clemson***
- Nov. 24: W 1-0 vs. LSU***
- Nov. 29: vs. TCU (6:30 p.m.)***
*-SEC game, **-SEC tournament game, ***-NCAA tournament game
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.