WOMEN’s SOCCER: After loss to Vandy, Lady Tops still looking for .500 plateau

Beth Wilberding

The Lady Topper’s hope of returning to .500 was kicked out from under them as Western split their weekend games with High Point and Vanderbilt.

Sunday, the Lady Toppers lost their second of three games when they fell Sunday to Vanderbilt 3-1.

Western gave up its first goal seven minutes into the game when Commodore junior Molly Wilson scored her second goal of the season. Senior Laura Hershenow added another goal 16 minutes later, giving Vanderbilt a 2-0 halftime lead.

In the first minute of the second half, Western’s Betsy Duncan scored her first goal of the season. But it wasn’t enough to keep Western in the game, as Vanderbilt senior Michelle Bruntlett scored off an assist from Molly Wilson.

Vanderbilt (4-2-2) also outshot Western 33-10.

Coach Jason Neidell was disappointed with his team’s performance.

“We didn’t come out with any emotion or energy,” Neidell said. “We didn’t look like we were ready to play.”

Junior midfielder Leslie Anderson said the team came out “a little bit flat.” A 45-minute weather delay during a men’s soccer tournament pushed Western’s game back. But Anderson said that shouldn’t be used as an excuse.

“We picked it up in the second half,” Anderson said. “But we didn’t pick it up enough that we could be in contention for the game … We were doing things that weren’t characteristic of us.”

Another setback from the night’s game was the injury of junior midfielder Andrea Doogs. Doogs collided with another player, and she missed the rest of the game. Junior Jackie Krieger filled in for Doogs. Neidell said he couldn’t comment on the extent of Doogs’ injury “until they have a chance to evaluate her.”

“We’ll have to get a better look at her this week,” Neidell said.

Friday night, the Lady Toppers faced High Point at home and came away with a 3-2 win. Western freshman Tara Tidwell scored the first goal of the night – and of her career – in the 44th minute off assists from Duncan and Doogs.

High Point (1-4) answered when Jen Evans scored early in the second half. Freshman Jenna Silverberg scored her sixth career goal, but the Toppers (3-4) were quieted when Panther Emily Lenham scored almost 10 minutes later.

In the 82nd minute of the game, Anderson scored the winning goal off an assist from junior Crystal Chapon.

Despite the win, players and coaches said they could have played better.

“I don’t think we played as well as we can,” Krieger said. “We eased up a little bit … We can’t let down.”

Reach Beth Wilberding at [email protected].