Sept. 8, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY — In chilly, rainy conditions at Ute Field Sunday, the No. 18 University of Kentucky women’s soccer team suffered a 2-1 setback in double overtime to No. 23 Utah. It was the first loss of the season for the Wildcats (3-1-0) as the Utes (2-0-1) evened out the overall series with UK at 1-1-0.
“You can’t make mistakes in overtime as it will cost you the win,” Coach Warren Lipka said. “The goal was a result of poor positioning on a goal kick and a defensive error. It was a well-fought match and both teams had chances to win it. We have to regroup and prepare for a three-week home stand that we’re looking forward to getting to.”
Utah prevented a scoreless first period when Lauren Field passed the ball to Missy Dennis on a corner kick with less than three minutes to play before the break. Dennis blasted a 20-yard shot that beat UK goalkeeper Liz Butler to the top left of the net to give the Utes a 1-0 edge after 45 minutes. It was the first time this season the Wildcats trailed after one half of play as UU outshot UK, 8-5, and posted five corners to the Cats’ two.
The Cats answered the Utes’ corner kick goal with a score of their own with 32:55 showing on the clock. Kara McCue launched the ball from the corner into a crowd that Elizabeth Ramsey controlled and slipped to Jen Wilkinson who in turn, fired a 10-yard shot toward the middle of the net. Wilkinson’s blast found a home in the back of the Utah goal to even the match at one apiece. The score was the first for the Darien, Ill., native since a 4-1 victory over Murray State at the UK Soccer Complex on Sept. 17, 2001.
Utah’s Bobbie Benegas appeared to have the game-winner as the clock ticked off its final 10 seconds of regulations. Benegas drove hard down the right flank, maneuvered between two UK defenders and launched a laser that sailed wide only inches from the left post.
After a scoreless first overtime period, Dennis ended the rain-soaked contest at 101:56 when the junior forward booted a shot from the top of the box out of the reach to Butler’s upper-right. UK is now 20-14-10 overall in overtime matches.
The Wildcats ended a four-game road stand this afternoon and will next be in action at the friendly confines of the UK Soccer Complex when they play host to Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match with the Spartans will be the 100th home game in the program’s 11-year history.
121OT2OTFKentucky 0 1 0 0 1Utah10012
Scoring: Dennis, UU (Field), 42:21; Wilkinson, UK (Ramsey), 57:09; Dennis, UU (unassisted), 101:56Shots: UK 9, UU 15Saves: UK 5, UU 4Corner Kicks: UK 8, UU 9Fouls: UK 12, UU 17Attendance: 178
– UK –
