Women’s Soccer Suffers Late Goal to Bulldogs
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (8-1-2, 0-1-2) led the Bulldogs 1-0 for a majority of the match, but a Georgia (5-3-3, 1-1-1) goal in the 80th minute soured things for the Wildcats at the Bell Soccer Complex Thursday evening. The Wildcats now have two points through three Southeastern Conference matches.
Kentucky outshot the defending SEC Tournament champions 17-9, putting seven shots on goal to Georgia’s three, forcing the Bulldogs goalkeeper, Jordan Brown, into six saves. Kentucky also led on corner kicks 10-8 while the Bulldogs committed 13 fouls with no cautions issued.
The Wildcats got the scoring started in the 20th minute after a shot on goal from Sophia Mattice was spilled by Brown in the box. Mia Bookhard was there to collect the rebound and played a pass into Makala Woods who stood on the goal line and touched the ball into the net for the 1-0 lead. It marked Bookhard’s first assist of the season and fourth of her career. Woods scores her fifth goal of the season and continues leading all team scorers. Kentucky kept the pressure on to end the first 45 minutes, but no second goal was to be found.
The second half was a back-and-forth one between the two sides. Kentucky got a multitude of opportunities to extend their lead, but the finishing left something to be desired. Meanwhile, Georgia had their opportunities on the counterattack and called Wildcat goalkeeper Marz Josephson into action twice. Their perseverance paid off in the end as in the 80th minute they caught the Wildcats short-handed on a break and converted to tie the game at 1-1.
Controversy erupted just a short while later after the Wildcats were convinced there was a handball in the box after Maddie Kemp looped a ball in off her head looking for Makala Woods. The ball, unknown to the Georgia center back, fell out of the air and bounced off her extended arm inside the penalty area. After a lengthy review, the head official determined it was not a foul and play could continue, despite the protests.
The Wildcats will now endure back-to-back road matches as they travel to Norman, Oklahoma on Sunday, September 29th, for the first time in program history followed by a Friday match at Alabama. Kickoff against the Sooners is slated for 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.
Season tickets for all Kentucky soccer men’s and women’s home games can be purchased here, while single-game tickets are available here.
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