Sept. 16, 2008
Evansville, Ind. – The offensive woes continued for the UK women’s soccer team (1-5-0) as they dropped a 1-0 match to the Evansville Purple Aces (5-1-1).
Evansville grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 22:21 mark when Mia Tofano took a pass from Kasey Kutzler and put it passed a charging Sydney Hiance from 18 yards out.
The Wildcats controlled the ball the majority of the second half getting off 14 shots to Evansville’s four, however, time after time, the shots were right at Evansville goalie Theresa Bagby.
Kentucky had the game’s first legitimate scoring opportunity just over 11 minutes in when Kelly Miller sent a corner kick in front of the goal that Kate Hughes got a head on, but Bagby was there for the save.
UK had an opportunity to tie the game in the 55th minute when Nicola Holdsworth took a free kick and sent a chip shot in front of the net that Laura Novikoff got under, but her header went wide left.
UK’s Katie Fahey attempted to tie the game in the 70th minute when she controlled the ball on the left side of the goal, 15 yards out and turned a fired a shot, but it was right at Bagby.
Fahey was at it again in the 75th minute, this time chasing down a ball served by Kristin Kover. Fahey dribbled in 10 yards and then fired off a shot, but again, Bagby was right there for the save.
UK had yet another missed opportunity in the 86th minute when Ashley Stack serviced a ball in front of the Evansville goal. Novikoff got off a solid header, but sent it off the cross bar. She got her rebound, but her second shot went high over the goal.
The Wildcats got off a season high 24 shots, the most since recording 25 shots against LSU on Oct. 21, 2007. Novikoff paced the Wildcats, tallying a career high six shots. Fahey also notched a career high, with four shots, three of which were on goal. Holdsworth tied her career best with four shots.
The Wildcats return home this weekend to host Oakland and Cleveland State. Friday night’s match against Oakland will be UK’s first at the UK Soccer Complex since opening the season on Aug. 28 against the eighth ranked Texas Longhorns.
