ATHENS, Ga. – Unsuccessful scoring opportunities plagued Kentucky Friday evening as the Cats suffered a 2-0 defeat to Georgia at the Georgia Soccer Stadium in Athens. The Cats drop to 6-7-1 and 3-3-1 in the conference, while Georgia improves to 4-6-4 and 2-3-2 in the SEC.
Kentucky managed a third-minute shot from freshman Sarah Gaunt, though the shot sailed wide. Georgia?s Susie Weber registered two ninth-minute shots, but UK goalkeeper Liz Butler saved each shot. Georgia?s Elizabeth Metherell sent a corner kick through the penalty box in a minute later, but the ball rolled out of bounds untouched. In the 12th minute, UK?s Elisabeth Jones sent a cross to Alli Haeussler in the middle of the box, though the ensuing shot sailed high over the goal. The Cats? Courtney McCrudden drilled a 24th-minute corner kick, but Kentucky could not produce a legitimate scoring opportunity. Finally, in the 35th minute, Georgia?s Randi-Lynn Bruso struck a header from nine yards over an approaching Butler to put the Dogs on top, 1-0. Kentucky managed an Erin Witchey header and an Ashley Schillig shot on two 44th-minute corner kicks, but the Cats came up empty on each occasion.
Kentucky renewed its intensity in the second half but failed to dent the net. Kentucky struck corner kicks in the 49th, 54th and 55th minutes but only managed an errant Alli Haeussler header. In the 58th minute, Haeussler found an unattended Elisabeth Jones, who fired a bullet toward the goal, but Georgia keeper Ashley Lindley stood in perfect position to record the save. Jones was free in the middle of the box in the 63rd minute, but a Sarah Gaunt cross sailed over her head and out of bounds. Georgia added to its cushion minutes later Karen Zmirak found Cortni Joyner, who drilled a line drive past Butler for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.
Kentucky nearly cashed in on an opportunity in the 80th minute, but Kristin Moyer?s looping shot from outside of the box struck the crossbar and fell out of play.
Kentucky winds up its road trip Sunday afternoon when the Cats meet No. 6 Tennessee in Knoxville. The match is set for 2 p.m. EDT at the Tennessee Soccer Complex.
