Men’s Soccer Wraps Up 2002 Regular Season Against Western Kentucky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt men’s soccer team (3-14, 1-7 MVC) will entertain Missouri Valley Conference rival Western Kentucky (7-10-1, 1-7 MVC) in its 2002 regular-season finale at 7 p.m. Friday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. This will be the final home game for 10 Vanderbilt seniors, who have combined to play in an amazing 501 games over their four years.

Vanderbilt has played Western Kentucky more than any other team in its existence. This will be the 23rd meeting between these two rivals, with the Hilltoppers owning a 13-9-1 edge. Western Kentucky has won four of the last five meetings, including a 1-0 win last year in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Commodores enter with still an outside shot at making the conference tournament. They will need to defeat Western Kentucky and have Evansville (7-8-2, 2-5 MVC) lose both games this weekend. The Purple Aces will take on Bradley and Eastern Illinois this weekend in Evansville, Ind. If Evansville wins or ties either game, it will advance to the MVC Tournament.

Vanderbilt picked up its first MVC victory and ended an eight-game losing streak in the process against Evansville last Sunday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The Commodores had their largest offensive output of the season in their 3-1 win. For the Black and Gold, it was only their third win all-time against the Purple Aces (3-10).

Senior Brad Winter is coming off a solid weekend in goal for the Commodores. Winter allowed only two goals while recording 18 saves, as Vanderbilt went 1-1 over the weekend. In Sunday’s victory, three players scored their first goals of the season. Senior Charlie White, junior Brian Lamping and freshman Brent Richard accounted for the Commodores’ goals.

Scouting the Hilltoppers

Despite its recent struggles, Western Kentucky still brings a lot of talent to the table. The Hilltoppers have recorded 79 points on 30 goals and 19 assists. WKU head coach David Holmes has nine players who have tallied at two goals this season and six players who have dished at least two assists.

Midfielder Ben Buerger and forward Jason Dugas have been the offensive leaders for the Hilltoppers. Both have scored five goals apiece, while combining for three assists. The two have combined for 60 shots and three game-winning goals.

Along with Dugas, there are two other freshman who have contributed a lot to Holmes’ offense. Midfielder Richard Mupfudze has chipped in with two goals and four assists for eight points. He has recorded 42 shots, which leads the team, and one game-winning goal. Midfielder Brandon Bailey is tied for third with four goals, which has he has recorded on only 19 shots.

Junior Daryl Satler has started and played in all 18 games this season for the Hilltoppers. The junior has had a fairly solid season, as he allowed 35 goals for a 1.89 goals against average. Satler has recorded 103 saves, which leads the MVC, and three shutouts. His three shutouts came early in the season against Kentucky Wesleyan, North Carolina-Asheville and Radford.