Like so many sports teams before them, Vanderbilt women's soccer faces a game tomorrow where the situation is simple: win or go home.

To this date the Commodores have compiled a record of 9-7-2. A record respectable by any means, but if they can get their tenth victory on Friday it will give them a chance to extend their season in the Southeastern Conference Playoffs.

With that in mind, the team will travel to Lexington, Kentucky today to face the Wildcats at 6 P.M. looking for results far from frightful. The Commodores are coming off of one of their strongest performances against an SEC opponent after they defeated Mississippi State 4-0 last Sunday to put their conference record at 3-6-1. A repeat performance is necessary against the Wildcats of Kentucky if they want to put themselves in a position to be eligible for the eighth and final seed in the SEC tournament.

"We all know that a lot is riding on this game," said redshirt freshman Cat Wearn, who scored the game-winning goal in Vanderbilt's first match of the season. "We are in a must-win situation."

It is situations like these that get the juices flowing in any athlete, and often the nerves as well. This concern of nerves would be even greater in most teams with as much youth as this one, but the Commodores have shown that their experience and the guiding hand of their coaches has been enough to steer them through many tough situations.

Not surprisingly, the girls are showing their normal levelheaded demeanor as they approach their big game tonight.

"We've had a good week of practice," Wearn said. "Everyone was sharp and focused. We are definitely ready to compete [tonight]."

Looking solely at their records and history this season, the scale would seemingly tilt in favor of the Commodores. The lady Wildcats (2-7-1 in the SEC) have fallen to Tennessee and South Carolina, both of whom Vanderbilt was able to beat. In addition, the same Mississippi State team who Vanderbilt disposed of handily took Kentucky into overtime on October 23rd.

Unfortunately, a win will not lock them in to the final spot in the tournament. They are going to need some help from some of their SEC counterparts. As Wearn and the rest of her teammates see it though, their destiny is in their own hands.

"A win will not guarantee us a berth into the SEC tournament." Wearn said. "However, it is all we can control."

While the Wildcats themselves have been officially eliminated from the SEC Tournament, the seniors especially will be aiming to impress on their senior night and end their careers with a victory. Because of this, Vanderbilt will need to come out firing.

Luckily, if their attitude is any indication of how their play will be, the outcome should be a positive one.

"We are prepared for a hard fought game and hope to extend our season with a big win," Wearn said.