Helping raise money to fight cancer was a successful endeavor for the Vanderbilt women's soccer team Sunday. Scoring one goal, however, proved to be a lot more difficult.
For 103 minutes, Vanderbilt fired shot after shot at local rival Belmont but could not score. A little pluck and luck changed that.
Sophomore forward Molly Kinsella kicked a deflection off of redshirt freshman Catherine Wearn that zipped past Belmont goalie Sari Lin, giving Vanderbilt a thrilling 1-0 victory. The Commodores (1-0) and the Bruins (1-1) battled vigorously through regulation, one overtime and three minutes of the second overtime before the sudden-death goal.
The Commodores, who dominated the Bruins in ball control, kept a lively announced crowd of 1,227 riveted by numerous close shots. Vanderbilt held an astounding 41-6 advantage in shots and 19-3 advantage in shots on goal.
The last shot was the only one to slip by Lin, with Wearn getting credit for the goal, the first of her college career, while Kinsella notched the assist. The hectic final moments were fitting for a game that was exciting and taut throughout.
"I was tired, I almost stopped," Kinsella said of the final play. "But Cat (Wearn) yelled, ‘Get it, get it', and I tried to kick it as hard as I could at her and hope for a deflection."
Her wish was granted, and the Commodores celebrated on the field while the crowd on hand roared its approval.
"It was a team goal," Wearn told Vanderbilt's athletic website. "I was just lucky to be standing in the right place at the right time."
Off the field, Vanderbilt and Belmont were fighting the battle against cancer. The game was a "Soccer for the Cure" match, with all money raised going to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Over $5,000 was raised and benefited the hospital's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology department to help find a cure and also provide additional comfort for its patients.
Tom Woodard, a marketing consultant with the Vanderbilt athletic department and a self-described huge soccer fan, spoke at halftime telling the crowd about the "Soccer For A Cure" program, a nonprofit organization that encourages soccer nation to help families fight cancer. Five children who had benefited from the foundation joined him on the field for the presentation.
Woodard was grateful for the enthusiastic turnout and the large proceeds raised.
"Pretty amazing," Woodard said of the raised money. "Twelve hundred (people) on opening day? Pretty good for a first day."
The Commodores looked pretty good on the field too. Despite being unable to convert opportunities during regulation, Vanderbilt kept pressure on Belmont long enough to finally break through.
"Whichever way it comes (we'll take a win)," Kinsella said. "We're just happy we came up with the win, and we're going to put it behind us."
