Nov. 8, 2001
GAGE LEADS KENTUCKY PAST No. 18 TENNESSEE IN SEC OPENER
BATON ROUGE, La. – Senior captain Annie Gage scored a goal on her 200th career shot to lift the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team (12-6-1) to a 4-2 first-round victory over No. 18 Tennessee (11-6-0) in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. on Thursday.
“It was a good win, we were able to play composed for 90 minutes and that’s what we were aiming to do,” Coach Warren Lipka said. “We looked to score early, score late and win the game – all three of those goals were accomplished.”
The All-SEC tandem of Gage and junior Keri Boyce connected at the 5:34 mark of the first half to open the scoring. Boyce drove down the right flank and sent a cross to the center of the field where Gage dented the UT net from five yards out. The goal came on Gage’s 200th shot of her illustrious career at Kentucky, making her the only player in UK history to amass 200 shots.
“You can’t take shots unless your teammates get you the ball,” Gage said. “The recognition of that mark goes to my teammates. The opportunities wouldn’t be there if they wouldn’t create them for me.”
The dynamic duo of Boyce and Gage struck again to lead the Cats to a 2-0 edge at the 21:33 point. Boyce passed to Gage from the right sideline and maneuvering over a fallen UT defender, launched a shot from 10 yards out past UT netminder Cori Stevens that kissed the back of the Volunteer net.
Tennessee challenged with a shot from Lyndsey Patterson that sailed over the head of UK goalkeeper Beth Wells but ricocheted off the crossbar to the Cats’ advantage. Executing with precision passes on the offensive end, the Wildcats struck again at the 34:52 mark when junior Kim Jedlo’s cross found junior Christal Mattingly in position to knock in her first goal of the season, a left-footer from five yards out. However, the Lady Vols would answer UK’s offensive output. First-team All-SEC forward Sue Flamini rocketed an 18-yard direct kick past UK goalkeeper Beth Wells with four second remaining in the period, closing the half at 3-1, UK.
The Vols turned up the heat in the second period, attacking the Wildcat net and sending Wells from right to left in the box warding off shots on goal. Senior defenders Melinda Buemi and Aimee Brown gave Wells some needed help, saving a shot each directed to an open UK net. Tennessee would finally get one of its 13 second-half shots past Wells, as Flamini launched a 20-yarder to the upper-left corner in the 82nd minute, slicing UK’s lead to 3-2.
Freshman Danielle Slupski sealed the win for Kentucky with two minutes remaining as she blasted a shot from 19-yards out to the lower right of the UT goal. Gage assisted on Slupski’s score, giving the Westerville, Ohio native 105 career points, two shy of Kim LaBelle’s (1994-97) all-time record of 107.
The Wildcats, 7-6-1 overall in SEC Tournament history, will now face No. 1 seed Florida (15-3-1) in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. ET. Florida advanced with a 4-0 shutout of No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (7-10-0).
UK 3 1 4UT 1 1 2Goals: Gage, UK (Boyce), 5:34 Gage, UK (Unassisted), 21:33 Mattingly, UK (Jedlo), 34:52 Flamini, UT (Unassisted), 44:56 Flamini, UT (Unassisted), 82:34 Slupski, UK (Gage), 87:50Shots: UK- 7, UT- 23Saves: UK- 10, UT- 1Corner Kicks: UK- 1, UT- 2Fouls: UK- 22, UT- 9
– UK –
