Kentucky Travels to South Carolina, Meets Defending Conference Champions
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer program resumes its fall season for week three this weekend, traveling to Columbia, South Carolina, to meet South Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. ET. The contest will be carried on the SEC Network, with Michael Watts and Cat Whitehall on the call.
The Wildcats own a 0-2-0 record after meeting two of the conference’s top-four teams to begin the season, losing at Vanderbilt on September 20 and vs. No. 13 Arkansas on September 27. The strength test will continue this weekend, as South Carolina is the defending Southeastern Conference Champions and picked to finish the season second in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll.
The Gamecocks are 1-1-0 this fall and will feature a pair of athletic freshmen in forward Catherine Barry and goalkeeper Taylor Fox. Barry leads her team with two goals in six shots, while Fox has played all 180 minutes as a rookie netminder, carding eight saves and allowing just two goals this season.
Kentucky narrowly leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 13-11-1, although UK hasn’t defeated Carolina since Oct. 10, 2014.
Despite working within the confines of an undermanned active roster in their last two contests, the Wildcats have been able to produce some conference-leading stats against top-ranked teams. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brooke Littman is the league’s leader in saves, recording 18 saves in two games, seven more saves than the field. In her Kentucky debut, the Notre Dame transfer recorded a career high seven saves at Vanderbilt, and then reset her career high on 11 saves against No. 13 Arkansas.
Kentucky also boasts the conference’s solo leader in goals, as Jordyn Rhodes has recorded three goals in just nine shots this season. The sophomore also leads the team in career goals, registering 11 goals in just a little over one season.
The game at Eugene E. Stone Stadium III will follow a reduced capacity plan, allowing 675 fans inside the stadium. Fans are still encouraged to follow along through live scoring, tune into SEC Network or watch live on the ESPN app.
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.?
