NASHVILLE, Tenn. (SMU) – In a game decided in the final minutes, the SMU women's soccer program erased a two-goal second-half deficit but fell 4-3 on the road to No. 5 Vanderbilt after a late penalty kick on Wednesday in the team's season opener.
After trailing 3-1 in the second half, the Mustangs (0-1-0, 0-0-0 ACC) tied the game when
Kaia Samuelsen Elverum scored in the 65th minute with a rocket to the upper left corner off a feed from
Libby Jannereth.
Both teams fought to grab the lead over the final 15 minutes but in the 89
th minute, Vanderbilt (1-0-0, 0-0-0 SEC) was awarded a penalty kick after a foul was called inside the box after a lengthy video review. SMU goalkeeper
Aubrey Brown guessed right, but the shot from Vandy's Courtney Jones slipped by her outstretched arms and gave the Commodores, who were picked to win the SEC this season, the lead and the victory.
Brown finished the night with three saves while
Kaylee Noble and
Londynn Hagan led the team in shots with two apiece.
Brooke Bunton scored her second career goal while Elverum netted her first as a Mustang and the second of her career.
After a scoreless 30 minutes, Vanderbilt took the lead in the 32
nd minute, but midfielder
Brooke Bunton answered right back for SMU in the 33
rd minute, scoring the first goal of the season for the Mustangs. Bunton cradled a ball floated in from Maylee Martin by spinning around a defender and sending a shot into the net.
The Mustangs were headed into the half tied at one with the number five team in the nation.
Vanderbilt flexed their muscles to start the second half, scoring in the 48
th and 54
th minutes of the game. However, SMU showed no signs of quitting and kept creating opportunities. In the 60
th minute,
Kamiya Beck got by a defender and drove down the near sideline before sending a cross that was kicked into the net by a Vanderbilt defender for an own goal, giving the Mustangs a chance.
Minutes later, Elverum tied the game with her rocket of a shot. The Mustangs generated good scoring opportunities late but were unable to cash in before the penalty from Vanderbilt.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs are a seven-game home stand by host North Texas in the team's home opener on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 7 pm inside Washburne Stadium. Fans can enjoy free admission to all SMU women's soccer regular season matches. Sunday's game will air on ACCNX.
