Nov. 5, 2000
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky men's soccer team defeated Vanderbilt in a rematch from a contest earlier in the season on Sunday night in the first round of the Iron Kid's Bread MVC Soccer Tournament in front of 501 fans at the WKU Soccer Complex. In the second conference match of the season, Vanderbilt scored a goal in the last second of double overtime to take the victory, but in the tournament the Hilltoppers prevailed by a 3-2 margin. The win ups WKU's overall record to 10-10 and advances them to the semifinals of the MVC tournament.
WKU jumped out early on the Commodores in the match's 12th minute when senior Donovan Schultz (Johannesburg, South Africa) took a fast break after he intercepted a Vanderbilt pass and punched the ball past the outstretched arms of Vanderbilt goalkeeper Brad Winter.
Vanderbilt answered back in the match's 35th minute when Charlie White took a pass from Jeff Becker past WKU goalkeeper Daryl Sattler (Cordova, Tenn.). The match went to the half tied at one.
The Hilltoppers took over shortly after halftime when senior Steven Brown (Bowling Green, Ky.) nailed his 10th match winning goal of the season in the match's 60th minute off a pass from junior Tawanda Chitapa (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe). Brown came right back in the match's 75th minute and took a pass from Schultz that sealed the victory for the Hilltoppers.
The Commodores were able to mount a slight comeback late when Baker nailed a free kick past Sattler in the 86th minute to make it 3-2, but the Hilltoppers played tight defense for the last four minutes to take the victory.
Sattler made five saves in the match while allowing two goals.
The win was the Hilltoppers first in a Missouri Valley Conference match in the four years the program has been a member of the MVC.
"Our guys came out focused and ready to play," head coach David Holmes said. "This win is a reward for a team that has fought hard and showed great character a season long. Our seniors provided great leadership and we played with great emotion."
The Hilltoppers go on to play the second seed in the tournament, Creighton, which defeated Western earlier in the season 3-0 at Creighton. The match will be in St. Louis, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 10. The gametime will be set on Monday. The other semifinal match will pit Bradley against Southern Methodist.
