In the minutes following the Commodores’ narrow 3-2 loss to the University of Mississippi (7-8-4, 3-4-3 in the Southeastern Conference) on Senior Day, junior Bridget Lohmuller assessed the play on which she earned a yellow card.
“The ball got through our defense. I was tracking the girl who came through, and we both got tripped up.” Lohmuller said. “We both went down on the penalty spot, and (the referee) called a foul.”
That foul gave Rebel defender Alix Hildal a free kick inside the box; she connected for her third score of the afternoon to give Ole Miss a lead it would not relinquish.
“You win some, you lose some, I guess,” Lohmuller said.
Early on, however, this contest did not appear to be in the category of the latter.
One and one-half minutes into regulation, senior Megan Kinsella drilled her fourth goal of the season for Vanderbilt (8-8-2, 4-4-2 SEC).
“The ball came out from the back — (Kristine) Chaklos sent it in — on a curve ball, and Nicole Adams went in. I thought she was going to score, so I wasn’t expecting it,” Kinsella said. “But when it bounced over, I knew that I had to fight and scratch to get there. That’s what we had been working on all week.”
Less than three minutes later, that work become even more visible; Nicole Adams notched her fifth score on the year, to give the Commodores a 2-0 advantage.
“The ball came across Megan. I saw it, and I just wanted to beat the keeper to the ball,” Adams said. “So I got to it before her, and she made a good save … I stuck with it and buried it in the back of the net.”
Yet, Hildal would respond.
At the 28-minute mark of the first half, Hildal added her first goal on a penalty kick. Just over eight minutes later, the Ohio native connected again with the back of the net on an assist from Morgan Zigelsky.
Ole Miss had closed the gap, heading into intermission at a deadlocked 2-2.
With nearly three minutes of action gone in the final period, Hildal yet again became the beneficiary of questionable officiating by the referees. Nonetheless, Lohmuller was called for the infraction; Hildal made the Commodores pay.
In the remainder of the second half, Vanderbilt repeatedly tested the Rebel’s backfield. Senior Molly Kinsella spearheaded the attack, in which the Dores mustered 10 shots on goal and eight corner kicks.
But Ole Miss goalkeeper Sarah Story continuously rebuffed opportunities, with four saves.
“It was unfortunate today, the way it dropped. But we’ll get it next weekend,” Megan Kinsella said, in the final home game of a decorated career for both Kinsella sisters.
Vanderbilt finishes its 2010 regular season slate next Friday at Kentucky.
“We’re planning on coming out really strong, playing for the goal. We’re going to be seeing Kentucky on their Senior Night,” said Lohmuller, who combined with senior Megan Eddings to neutralize the Rebel offensive for much of the afternoon. “It’s going to be tough, but we plan on winning.”
