Sept. 10, 2001
When women’s soccer coach Warren Lipka received the devastatingnews that his All-Southeastern Conference forward Elizabeth Ramsey suffereda torn ACL in a club soccer game last spring, he knew that a gaping hole inthe Wildcat offensive attack must be filled if Kentucky was to advance topost season play in 2001.
“As a coach, you fear that phone call,” Lipka said. “The primaryconcern is if she’s OK how the family is doing and how she’s dealing withit. Second, you must keep the team positive and finally, you’re left withthe responsibility of finding athletes to step up and contribute in herabsence.”
Lipka, celebrating his tenth season at the helm of the Wildcats,can rest a little easier knowing that four athletes have accepted hisinvitation – and challenge – to pick up where Ramsey, UK’s all-timesingle-season assist record holder (11 in 1999), left off.
The job of finding the net for Kentucky, currently ranked No. 25nationally by Soccerbuzz.com, has been bequeathed to four new Cats, alltransfers and standout players on their previous teams.General, the reinforcements have arrived.
Senior forward Kate Qually came to UK in 2000 after two solid seasons atSan Diego State. This year, sophomore Kim Jedlo crossed the Ohio Riverfrom Cincinnati, junior Courtney Pollock said goodbye to the IndianaHoosiers while sophomore Amber Wilson left the “Big House” in Ann Arbor forthe Bluegrass of Kentucky. Combined, the quadruplet brings 29 goals, 15assists and 73 points to the Wildcat attack.While at SDSU, Qually recorded the fourth hat trick in Aztec history bysending three goals past Indiana while garnering an assist en route to a5-0 shutout on Sept. 12, 1999. She was named Mountain West Player of theWeek for her efforts.
“We saw Kate when we played against San Diego State out in Las Vegas in1999 and we were immediately impressed by her tenacity and aggressive styleof play, Lipka said. “She is very active and as a striker, she takes a lotof pride in defending.”
In 2000, Qually was one of six Wildcats to finish the season withdouble-digits in points scored as she tallied four goals and two assistsfor 10 points. She came to Kentucky because she admired the coachingphilosophy as well as UK’s nationally accredited journalism program.”Coach Lipka and coach (Tim) Bennett’s coaching style really appealed tome,” Qually said. “They relate well to the players and create a truefamily atmosphere the entire athletic environment at UK and its dedicationto winning was the selling point.”
Jedlo, a 2000 Soccerbuzz Great Lakes All-Freshman team selection,begins her first season in Lexington after finishing as Cincinnati’s teamleader in goals (10) and points scored (22) a year ago. Originally fromChicago, she played on the same Windy City Pride club team as sophomoredefender Jen Wilkinson and it was through their friendship that Jedlo’sinterest in moving 79 miles south was ignited.
“Jen and I talked about me coming to UK and after I met with thecoaches, I knew that I wanted to be a Wildcat,” Jedlo said. “Coach Lipkaand Coach Bennett are straight forward, up front and honest with you at alltimes and I totally respect that as a player.”On the field, Jedlo is an instant goal scoring threat, as she will seeconsiderable action in the Wildcat midfield as well as at the forward spot.
“Kim puts herself in the position of scoring goals and once shegets in a rhythm, she is a very dangerous player,” Lipka said. She is anextremely hard worker, she runs and defends well and she has excellenttechnique. Kim does all the little things on the field it takes to getthe edge.”
After two seasons in Bloomington, Ind., Pollock realized that itwas time to return to the Commonwealth, as she is a native ofLouisville. Before excelling on the collegiate scene, Pollock made a namefor herself by earning two-time All-State, All-District, MVP and ScholarAthlete honors at Assumption High School.”I really liked the team dynamics, how the team stuck with each other onand off the field,” Pollock said. “Everyone supports each other here atKentucky and I knew that I wanted to be a part of a program like that.”Pollock saw action in 18 games as a Hoosier and scored the first goal ofher career in a 4-1 victory over Cincinnati on Oct. 28, 1999.”Courtney is an excellent defender, she works very, very hard on herfitness and knows the game extremely well she’s almost like a coach inthat aspect,” Lipka said. “She is always positive and brings thatpositive outlook to our team.”
Wilson was hired after an impressive resume caught Lipka’s eye. LeadingMichigan to a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance last year, shefinished the 2000 campaign as the Wolverines’ second leading goal scorer(9) while chalking up 23 points for the season. The 1999 Ohio Division IPlayer of the Year at Lakota West High School, Wilson started in 20 of 23games for the Maize and Blue last season and tied for the most game-winninggoals with three. After one season in Ann Arbor, team chemistry and thedirection of the program attracted Wilson to the Wildcat family.
“Kentucky just felt like home to me,” Wilson stated. “I wasimpressed with the coaches, players and the tradition of soccer here atUK. Everyone is a family and we all work together to achieve our goals.””Amber is the defensive midfielder we’ve been looking to get for years,”Lipka said. She has proven that she can put the ball in the net at thecollegiate level and she has truly impressed us with her ability to coverso much ground laterally. Amber is a great athlete and once she getsreally comfortable and understands our system, she has the ability to beone of the top midfielders in the SEC.”
After a 2-0 start and a top-25 ranking, UK and the new residents of theCommonwealth – to paraphrase a famous song by Stephen C. Foster areproudly singing: “The sun shines bright on my new Kentucky home.”
