Women’s Soccer Drops Season Opener to Saint Louis in Overtime, 1-0 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Sunday afternoon, the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team kicked off its 2002 season, while playing its first game at the newly constructed Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. Unfortunately, the Commodores began the season with a 1-0 overtime loss to Saint Louis University. With the loss, Vanderbilt falls to 0-1, while Saint Louis moves to 2-0 on the season.
 
In the 96th minute of the game, Saint Louis midfielder Christie Cigno fired a shot from right in front of the goal, which Vanderbilt goalkeeper Esther Thompson saved but the ball bounced off the post and defender Tressa Percher rebounded it back into the net. The goal came off an initial corner kick from forward Jamie Perry.
 
Despite giving up the game-winning goal, Thompson had a sensational game in goal. The junior recorded seven saves on the afternoon, several of which that could have been goals.
 
Both teams battled through a competitive first half; however, neither team was able to put one in the back of the net. The story of the first half was the play of both teams’ goalies. Thompson and Saint Louis’ Meghann Burke both dealt with serious offensive threats by the opposing team, but both were up to the challenge. Thompson recorded four saves, while Burke turned in three.
 
In a clean first half, which yielded only five fouls, the Commodores outshot the Billikens 9-4 in the first half.
 
The Commodores came out with a lot of offensive intensity in the second half, and their major scoring opportunity came in the 68th minute when midfielder Katharine Carroll blasted a shot from right outside the Saint Louis box, which Burke just got a hand on. Burke’s save hit the post. The Commodores were not able to convert on the rebound.
 
Both teams had opportunities in the second half, but Thompson and Burke continued their solid play in net. At the end of regulation, Thompson had six saves to Burke’s five. At the end of 90 minutes, the Commodores had a commanding lead in the shot category, as they had eight more shots then the Billikens (16-8).
 
Including overtime, the Commodores outshot the Billikens, 17-9. Forward Laura Hershenow led Vanderbilt with four shots, while Carroll and midfielder Jennifer Lewis both had three shots apiece. The Commodores had three more corner kicks then the Billikens; however, the most important corner kick of the game came on the game-winning goal.
 
The women’s soccer team now begins a difficult six-game road stretch when it takes on the University of Alabama-Birmingham at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 5, in Birmingham, Ala.

Scoring
SLU: Tressa Peecher (Christie Cigno) - 95:28