Sept. 4, 2008
Lexington, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s soccer team (1-1-0) continues its string of competition against the nation’s elite as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to participate in the Carolina/Nike Classic, taking on the 11th ranked Duke Blue Devils and the second ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.The pair of Top 15 teams gives UK three Top 15 opponents in their first four matches thus far this season. Kentucky opened the 2008 campaign against eighth ranked Texas last week.
“We’re going to have to pick up our level of play in order to compete this weekend,” said head coach UK Warren Lipka. “Duke is an annual member in the Top 25 and everybody knows what North Carolina stands for in women’s soccer. We’re excited about the challenges that await us the weekend.”
The Wildcats enter the weekend off a 1-0 win at Cincinnati Tuesday night. Sophomore Laura Novikoff tallied her second goal in as many matches, in helping lead the Wildcats to victory. Fellow sophomore Sydney Hiance recorded her first shutout of the season and the fifth in her young career.
Novikoff paces the Cats offensively with four points on two goals. Hiance has been UK’s lone body in the net, posting a 1.50 goals against average (GAA).
The Cats have played Duke and North Carolina only once before, earning a 2-2 tie with the Blue Devils while dropping a 4-0 decision to the Tar Heels in the 2003 Carolina Nike Classic.
Duke (3-0-0) is led offensively by Elisabeth Redmond. Redmond leads the team with seven points on three goals and an assist. Cassidy Powers has posted a perfect 0.00 goals against average with a shutout in 207 minutes on the season. The Blue Devils are coached by Robbie Church who spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons at Vanderbilt as head coach. The Wildcats were 2-0 against the Church led Commodores.
Allie Long leads the Tar Heel (3-0-0) offensive attack with six points on two goals and two assists, while Anna Rodenbough and Ashlyn Harris have split time in the nets, logging 135 minutes each. Rodenbough has not yielded a goal, while Harris has posted a 2.00 GAA.Kentucky and Duke are scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff on Friday, while the Cats and Heels will get together on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Fans can follow all the action on UKathletics.com.
