The Kentucky women?s soccer team (5-0-1) returns home one final time before embarking on a five-game road stretch as they host in-state rival Morehead State (1-3-0) in Thursday night action at the UK Soccer Complex.

Off to its best start since a 7-0 beginning in 2001, the Wildcats put its eight-game home unbeaten streak on the line against the Eagles, a team UK has never faced on the soccer field.

The Wildcats are 2-0-1 in matches against first-time opponents this season having tied the Purdue Boilermakers (0-0) and defeated the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (1-0) and the Bowling Green Falcons (4-0). UK was 1-1-0 against first-time opponents last season dropping a 2-0 affair to Denver in the NCAATournament. UKis 11-7-3 against first time opponents since the 2000 season.

Kentucky has held a pretty tight grip on women?s soccer in the state posting a 14-1-1 all-time record against schools from within the Commonwealth with UK?s most common opponent being Louisville (5-0-1 vs. UL). The Wildcats and the Cardinals meet on Sunday in Louisville.

Freshman Laura Novikoff leads the Wildcats offensively with four goals and 19 shots and is tied for the team lead with Callie Lanphier with eight points. Freshman Sydney Hiance will receive her second straight start in the nets for the Cats. She enters the match with a 0.76 goals against average, allowing only one goal in 118 minutes of action.

Kickoff between the Wildcats and Eagles is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Live stats will be available at ukathletics.com. Thursday night is UK Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night. UK faculty and staff will receive free admission for up to three additional family members for any UK faculty or staff with a valid ID.