NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga women's soccer team held No. 9 Vanderbilt to just one first half goal but fell to the Commodores 3-0 in Nashville Thursday night in non-conference action.
 
Vanderbilt connected on a goal by Haley Hopkins in the ninth minute. She rose above the Chattanooga defender just outside the 6-yard box and headed the shot into the far side of the net, just out of the reach of Mocs' keeper Ashton Shields.
 
"First of all, I thought the girls battled extremely well throughout the 90 minutes," Chattanooga head coach Gavin McKinney said. "We conceded early on in the first half, but we dug our heels in and continued to fight."
 
Chattanooga held off the Vanderbilt attack the remainder of the half and held the Commodores scoreless heading into intermission.
 
Just after the start of the second half, a push in the back from Chattanooga in the box, gave Vanderbilt a penalty kick at the 51:41 mark of the game to give UTC a two goal deficit. Grace Jackson connected on the PK, placing it high in the net.
 
Chattanooga sophomore Samantha Shaw gave UTC its first shot on goal less than three minutes later, but Vandy keeper Tianna Tolleson made the save, holding on to the shutout.
 
"We actually opened the up on one or two occasions," McKinney said. "I think it was a matter of a final movement, maybe us being a little bit sharper and joining a little bit quicker."
 
Hopkins scored her second goal of the game and nail home the Commodore's third goal, unassisted, in the 59^th minute.
 
"Playing one of the top teams in the country tells you a lot about yourself."
 
Shields had three saves in the match and gave up three goals to Vanderbilt who is now 7-0 with six shutouts. Chattanooga falls to 3-2-2 and will head to Alabama A&M next Thursday.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
1             VAN       8:57       Haley Hopkins (Nia Dorsey, Raegan Kelley)
2             VAN       51:41     Grace Jackson (penalty kick)
3             VAN       58:41     Haley Hopkins