No. 3 Vanderbilt moves to 4-0 behind three more goals at Rice
HOUSTON – No. 3 Vanderbilt soccer led for nearly 85 minutes on Thursday night at Holloway Field, eventually claiming a 3-1 win over Rice.
The Commodores improve to 4-0 for just the seventh time in program history, and the first since 2019. Sydney Watts opened the scoring just five minutes into the match, slotting her fourth goal in as many games off assists from Olivia Stafford and Reagan Pentz.
It was all Vanderbilt in the first half, and they were rewarded with a second goal in the 29th minute from Lena Tusche. The freshman bent it into the upper-right corner of the net for her first career goal, with Alexis Smith logging her first collegiate assist.
Rice (1-2-2) responded out of halftime, scoring through Valentina Labuschagne six minutes into the second period. Both teams threatened for the next goal, with Alexa Gianoplus making four crucial saves in goal for Vanderbilt. Margo Matula found the back of the net off a corner kick, but the goal was wiped away for an apparent handball.
After two big-time stops in succession from Gianoplus in the 80th minute, the Owls would register just one more shot as Vanderbilt sealed the victory. In the match’s final minute, Pentz broke away from the scrambled defense, scoring her second goal of the season and sealing the Dores’ first road victory of 2026.
Vanderbilt will stay in Space City over the weekend, battling Houston at noon on Sunday.
