ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Commodores are champions.

 

Vanderbilt beat Arkansas 3-1 on Sunday in the SEC Tournament championship, giving the program its first league tournament title since 1994. Vandy overcame a 1-0 deficit thanks to goals by Kimya Raietparvar, Raegan Kelly and Abi Brighton.

 

The Commodores (8-4) scored 14 goals in four tournament matches – an SEC Tournament record – for head coach Darren Ambrose. They also became the second team in SEC Tournament history since it expanded to include 10 teams to win four matches en route to a championship.

 

Sunday’s SEC Tournament championship was the 22nd claimed by Vanderbilt Athletics.

 

The Razorbacks, the No. 1 overall seed, finished its season 9-2.

 

Arkansas came out the gate and stunned the Commodores with a goal 46 seconds in. A failed clearance of a cross in the box fell to the right foot Kayla McKeon who slipped home the opening score.

 

Vandy was not deterred.

 

Not more than two minutes later Haley Hopkins drew a penalty kick. Raietparvar stepped to the spot and fired home a goal into the left side of the goal equalizing the score.

 

The Commodores certainly weren’t done, either.

 

In the fifth minute Leila Azari used a fine piece of individual skill to work down the right side of the field before lifting a cross for Kelley who headed it in giving Vanderbilt a 2-1 edge.

 

Vandy took that lead into the break and finished the first 45 minutes with three shots on goal and three corner kicks.