Unbeaten Wildcats Host No. 7/8 South Carolina on Thursday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Unbeaten through its first eight matches for the first time since 2007, Kentucky women’s soccer (6-0-2, 0-0-1 SEC) welcomes No. 7/8 South Carolina (7-1-1, 1-0-0 SEC) to the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer complex this Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. tilt.

Fans can purchase tickets or watch the action live on SECN+. Those attending the match are encouraged to wear blue. Thunder sticks will be given away to students.

Kentucky opened its SEC slate with a 1-1 draw against Texas A&M on the road last Friday, marking its first result in an SEC opener since the 2015 season. Jordyn Rhodes scored her seventh goal of the season in the match, tying her for the most in the conference entering this week. Rhodes now sits at 43 goals for her UK career, just one behind Kim LaBelle for the all-time program record.

The Cats have allowed just three goals this season, the fewest among all teams in the SEC.

South Carolina enters on a two-match win streak, most recently defeating Vanderbilt, 3-1, in the Gamecocks’ first SEC match of 2023. SC scored three goals in the opening 19 minutes of action to race out to a 3-0 lead, holding on to earn three points against the Commodores.

The 2022 SEC Tournament Champions are coming off a run to the Sweet 16 last season and return First Team All-SEC striker, Catherine Barry, along with a pair of SEC All-Freshman honorees in Shae O’Rourke and Gracie Falla. Barry, who was named to the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, is tied for the league lead with 16 points this season on six goals and four assists.

Kentucky is 13-14-1 all-time against the Gamecocks and will be looking to snap a seven-match losing streak against SC which dates back to 2016.

For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKWomensSoccer, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.