Sept. 2, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind another set piece goal from senior Natalie Horner, the University of Kentucky women’s soccer (4-0-0) team held off Southeast Missouri State (1-4-1) to collect its fourth win of the season 1-0, in the final game of the Tropical Smoothie Invitational Sunday afternoon in Lexington.
“One of the things we’ve been working on is how long we can possess the ball,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “I thought in the first half, a lot of the time, their backs were really dominating our forwards physically. Well done by them and their coaching staff in scouting our forwards and how we’re going to play. I thought we were a little tougher up top in the second half, made some adjustments, and tried to isolate a little more one vs. one. I thought that made a big difference for us.”
Horner struck for the game’s only goal in the 54th minute off a corner kick. Fellow senior Alyssa Telang placed the ball perfectly in the box where Horner rose up above the rest of the defense and headed the ball in to the far post. The goal was Horner’s second goal off a corner in as many games and also the second goal of the season for the Upper Arlington, Ohio, native. The assist for Telang was the first point in her senior campaign.
Kentucky’s defense continued to confuse and stymie its opponents, yet again capturing a clean sheet for the third game of the season in four tries. UK’s back line has yet to allow an opposing team find the back of the net in its four games thus far.
UK tallied 17 shots in the game to SEMO’s four while also charting 11 corner kicks. Kentucky has earned 41 corner kicks through four games on the season while just conceding two.
Yet again, the duo of Kayla King and Kayla Price combined for a shutout. King did not face a single shot on goal in the first half, while Price was forced to make only two saves in the second half of action. King picks up the win for Kentucky, moving to 4-0-0 on the season.
With the victory, Kentucky still sits as one of just six teams in the Southeastern Conference to not suffer a loss in 2012.
With a goal differential of +7 through the two games comprising the Tropical Smoothie Invitational, the Louisville Cardinals were crowned champions of the event. Kentucky finished second with a goal differential of +3, while SEMO and UNC-Greensboro tied for third with a -5 goal differential.
Horner headlined the All-Tournament Team for UK, joining sophomore Arin Gilliland and freshman Olivia Jester named to the team.
UK will next make the trip west on I-64 Friday night for a showdown of undefeated teams when the Cats will take on the 4-0-0 Louisville Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both Friday’s game with Louisville and Sunday’s game with the Samford Bulldogs will be part of the Cardinal Classic next weekend.
Tropical Smoothie Invitational Final Standings:
1. Louisville 2-0-0 (+7)
2. Kentucky 2-0-0 (+3)
T3. SEMO 0-2-0 (-5)
T3. UNCG 0-2-0 (-5)
All-Tournament Team
Louisville
Erin Yenney
Chelsea Hunter
Angelika Uremovic
Chloe Kiefer
Kentucky
Southeast Missouri
Hayley Abbott
Ashton Aubuechon
UNC Greensboro
Jamie Simmons
Stephanie Partenheimer
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
