NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Columbia women's soccer team was bested by the Vanderbilt Commodores, 3-0, on Friday night at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. It was the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
 
After a very encouraging opening 20 minutes of play, the Lions (0-1-1) had a chance to go in front in the 22nd minute. Maia Tabion got down near the goal line with the ball inside the 18. She attempted to send a cross back through but it was stopped by the outstretched arm of Vanderbilt's Hannah McLaughlin. The referee did not initially award the penalty but it was given after review. Tabion stepped up with an opportunity to finish from the spot but had her shot clang off the left post.
 
Vanderbilt (3-0-1) made the Lions pay. Two minutes later, Caroline Betts one-timed a shot from the top of the six-yard box on a ball sent in from Sydney Watts. There was nothing Rodriguez could do as the Commodores opened the scoring.
 
Thirteen minutes later the home side doubled its lead. It started when Sophia Cavaliere was whistled for a foul a few steps outside the top of the penalty arc. Cavaliere was yellow-carded for the foul and Vanderbilt's Courtney Jones stepped up to take the free kick. She buried the blast to the right side just under the crossbar, over the outstretched hand of Rodriguez to make it a 2-0 game.
 
It remained 2-0 at halftime. Vanderbilt had taken 11 shots to Columbia's three but only led 4-2 in shots on goal. Each keeper had two saves apiece.
 
Jones struck again from long range 11 minutes into the second half. On what looked like a crossing attempt for the back post, Jones's ball instead floated straight to the far corner of goal and snuck just under the crossbar.
 
That put the game out of reach. Columbia kept testing the Commodores, outshooting them 7-6 in the second half and winding up with eight corners to Vanderbilt's three, but could not break through.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up their trip to the Volunteer State on Sunday against Tennessee Tech. First kick in Cookeville is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN+.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on X, Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.