EAST LANSING, Mich. ? Kentucky surrendered four first-half goals on its way to a 5-1 defeat to Michigan State Sunday afternoon at MSU?s Old College Field. The Cats drop to 0-4 on the season after sustaining three consecutive losses to Big Ten conference opponents.
Kentucky?s scoring opportunities came few and far between in the first half. UK?s Alli Haeussler registered a sharp left footer from nine yards out, but MSU goalkeeper Erin Carlson stood tall for the save. Kentucky?s Elisabeth Jones found a scoring opportunity from eight yards, but her 29th-minute shot sailed high over the goal.
MSU got on the board in the 27th minute when Ashley Lawson corralled a loose ball from a corner kick and beat UK goalkeeper Liz Butler to her left for the first Spartan goal. Michigan State?s Lauren Zacharski found the net once again two minutes later to increase the MSU lead to 2-0. In the 43rd minute, Zacharski found a streaking Jenee Witherspoon, who drilled a diagonal shot into the far left corner of the net for a 3-0 MSU lead. The Spartans capitalized on a 44th minute corner kick to close the half, as Lauren Astry extended the MSU halftime cushion to 4-0.
In the 68th minute, UK?s Elisabeth Jones sent a cross from the left flank to freshman Nathalie Bolder, who boomed in a one-timer from point-blank range for her first career goal. MSU added a goal late in the second half against Kentucky?s Anne Ogundele, who played the entire second half, for the final 5-1 margin.
Kentucky returns to the pitch Friday evening when the Cats journey to the Queen City to meet Cincinnati.
