The Kentucky women?s soccer team (8-6-2, 3-3-1) will begin the first of two straight split weekends on Friday as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs before traveling to Ole Miss on Sunday.
The Wildcats look to regain the momentum they had going before losing at Georgia last Sunday. Prior to that match, Kentucky was unbeaten in four straight matches, a stretch that included a victory over then 11th ranked Tennessee (1-0) and a tie with then 16th ranked Florida (0-0). UK had also posted four consecutive shutouts.
The Bulldogs are currently mired in a six-match losing streak, including losses to South Carolina (1-0) and Florida (3-1) last weekend.
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Mississippi State 5-2-0 which includes a 4-1 victory in Starkville last season.
Following the Cats Friday home match, the team will pack up and head to Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday for a Sunday showdown with the Ole Miss Rebels (7-5-4, 3-1-4). It will be the first of two straight weekends of home and away competition for the Cats, but head coach Warren Lipka doesn?t think the change in routine will affect the team.
?It?s better now that they come at the end of the year because you?ve got enough travel under your belt as it is,? said Lipka. ?Mentally you have to be ready to play at home on Friday night then get up, pack your bags and leave the next day. I don?t think it?s as big of a thing as it looks because we?ve had enough travel prior to this weekend.?
The Cats all-time tally against the Rebels sits at 7-4-0.
The weekend is a crucial one for the Wildcats, as the team sits on the bubble for the 2006 SEC Tournament in two weeks. Kentucky is currently tied for the eighth and final spot with the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks, but Arkansas holds the tiebreak over Kentucky due to a higher goal differential.
Following the swing of Magnolia State teams, the Wildcats will close out the regular season next weekend hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores before flying to Arkansas to take on the Lady? Backs in the final match which could go a long way in deciding the final team in the tournament.
Kentucky is led offensively by freshman Giuleana Lopez who has a team best 19 points off eight goals, a team high, and three assists. Her four game-winning goals are also tops on the team.
Defensively, it doesn?t get much better than senior goalie Anne Ogundele who has an SEC best nine shutouts to her credit. Her 0.60 goals-against-average is second best in the conference.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs are scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex. Sunday?s match at Ole Miss is slated for a 2:00 p.m. ET start. Live stats for both matches will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
