Kentucky Hosts No. 13 Arkansas for Home Opener
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer program will host the Southeastern Conference’s preseason favorite in the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. ET, hosting No. 13 Arkansas at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. The contest will mark exactly 11 months since the program last hosted a home event, and Dave Baker will call the home opener on SEC Network+ for the seventh straight season, along with former Wildcat Payton Atkins.
Attendance at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex is limited to a player guest and coach guest pass list only, but fans are encouraged to follow along through live scoring or tune into SEC Network+.
Kentucky enters the contest with a 0-1 record after dropping its season opener at Vanderbilt last weekend. Despite traveling an undermanned roster to Nashville, Tennessee, the Wildcats put together a compelling performance in the first half, going into the 45th minute with a 2-0 lead after recording two goals, one assist and five saves.
Returning to the pitch as a sophomore, Jordyn Rhodes recorded back-to-back goals less than a minute apart against the Commodores, becoming the team’s leading scorer with ten career goals. Rhodes is tied for first in the league with two goals and four points after her season debut, while she ranks third in the league with six shots, just four back from the leader. Her performance was aided in part by Marissa Bosco, who was credited with an assist on Rhodes’ second goal.
The back line put together a strong performance in the first half, too, while goalkeeper Brooke Littman led the effort from the net. In her first appearance for Kentucky, the redshirt senior from Notre Dame registered seven saves in the game, the second most in the conference after week one.
No. 13 Arkansas boasts a 1-0- record ahead of this weekend’s home opener after forcing a 2-0 shutout against LSU. Reagan Swindall and Parker Goins scored the Razorbacks’ two goals, while they outshot LSU 20-11 in the game.
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Arkansas, holding a 13-9-2 overall edge.
The Razorbacks’ roster includes 18 returners, featuring a pair of goalkeepers in Taylor Beitz and Alexis Bach, and 15 newcomers. The goalkeeper duo split time in the net in the season opener last weekend, making a combined three saves.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s soccer program, follow?@UKWomensSoccer?on Twitter and on Instagram, on?Facebook?and on the web at?UKathletics.com.?
