Women’s Soccer Set to Open Season Against Jackson State on Thursday, Hosts Bark at the Bell
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s soccer team is set to make their season debut on Thursday evening, hosting Jackson State. The match is set to begin from the Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington at 7:30 p.m. ET and will also be available to stream on the SEC Network +.
In addition to the season opener for both teams, the match will serve as the program’s annual Bark at the Bell Night. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to the game, which will offer free admission to the public. Further details about Bark at the Bell are listed below:
Dogs will be permitted through the berm side gate. All dogs must be kept on a leash while in Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
A maximum of (1) dog per person is permitted. Dogs must stay on the grass berm and are not permitted in the seating bowl at any time (this includes using the restrooms, concessions, or bookstore). Owners are permitted to bring a water bowl for their dog, but dog food is prohibited. Kentucky Athletics reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog or require a dog to exit the stadium.
Bring your dog to Bark at the Park if he/she:
- Does well on-leash and is not aggressive toward people or other dogs
- Is friendly toward humans and not excessively fearful
- Is on a leash and always supervised by an adult
Participants are expected to practice responsible pet ownership. If your dog is an aggressive breed or has aggressive tendencies, do not bring him/her to this event. Do not bring your dog if it is unpredictable in crowds, with other dogs, and/or with strangers. Kentucky Athletics reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog or require a dog to leave for any reason.
The Wildcats are looking to build off the backs of an impressive 2024 campaign that saw the program go undefeated at home, win double-digit matches for the first time since 2014, qualify for its second straight SEC Tournament, earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2014, earn a NCAA Tournament seed and host a postseason match, and defeat West Virginia in penalty kicks to advance to the second round.
The 2025 squad will be full of fresh faces, with 15 newcomers—10 freshmen and five transfers—on a roster of 29 players. The Cats will also have to replace 78% of their scoring from a season ago and 100% of their goalkeeping.
Six Wildcats were named to the 2025 SEC Preseason Watch List—forward Alexis Tylenda, midfielders Sophie Harlan, Skye Leach, Catherine Rapp, and Tanner Strickland, and defender Grace Hoytink. Additionally, Kentucky was predicted to finish tenth in the SEC this season by the league’s coaches , the highest preseason prediction for the program in the Fabiano era. Kentucky is also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.
Head Coach troy Fabiano is entering his fourth season at the helm of Kentucky women’s soccer. Fabiano’s win total has increased in each of his three seasons in Lexington, culminating in last year’s historic campaign. A season ago, Fabiano earned his 350th win as a head coach and currently ranks fourth in the NCAA among active head coaches in career win percentage at .739.
The Wildcats will close out the opening weekend of the season on Sunday, August 17 by taking on West Georgia at The Bell at 1 p.m. ET. The program will also celebrate its seven seniors—Dana Dahm, Maddie Eastman, Mallory Glass, Harlan, Leach, Thalia Morisi, and Rapp—in a pregame ceremony.
Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public. For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook, Instagram, X and at UKathletics.com.
