LEXINGTON, KY ? It was a three weeks in the making, but the Kentucky women?s soccer team (7-6-2, 1-6-0) finally claimed its first win in conference play behind a 2-1 effort over the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (8-7-1, 1-5-1).
Kentucky broke its scoreless streak when Kelsey Fenix converted on a penalty kick nearly 22 minutes into the first half. The Lady Razorbacks were whistled for a foul in the box after a Tara Herold corner kick landed in front of the goal and two players collided prompting an immediate whistle from the official. Fenix?s goal snapped a streak of 416 straight minutes without a goal, the longest drought in school history.
Arkansas answered in the 35th minute when Lindsay Patterson sent a long throw into the box where Kathleen Paulsen flicked the ball in from eight yards out for the equalizer.
The Wildcats reclaimed the lead nearly three minutes (38:29) later on another successful penalty kick by Fenix. UK sent a ball into the box that Caitlin Coughlin went up to head but Arkansas goalie Brittni Williams was whistled for charging. The goal was Fenix?s second of the season and the first multi-goal effort of the senior?s career.
?Kelsey Fenix, as a captain and a senior leader, stepped up twice tonight and that was huge,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?That?s the only way to keep scoring and create scoring opportunities is to continue attacking.?
The Wildcats were in control of the match the entire night offensively, outshooting the Lady Razorbacks 14-10, including seven shots on goal to Arkansas? five, while posting eight corner kicks to the Lady ?Backs? one.
The Wildcats close out their four-match home stand on Sunday when they host the 24th ranked LSU Tigers. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Live stats will be available on UKathletics.com.