Saturday Night Lights: Kentucky, Auburn Will Compete on The Plains
AUBURN, Ala. – After playing a pair of top teams in the nation to draws in straight games at home, the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team travels to the plains to meet its third ranked team of the season in No. 14 Auburn on Saturday, October 24 at 7 p.m. ET. The contest will be carried on SEC Network+, with JJ Jackson and Brit Bowen on the call.
The Tigers have implemented a player guest and coach guest pass list attendance plan, so the general public will not be admitted. Fans are encouraged to follow all the action through live scoring or tune into SEC Network+.
The Wildcats sport a 0-3-2 record after logging a pair of ties at home over the past two weekends to then-No. 8 Georgia and Tennessee. The team has featured a fresh starting lineup in each of its first four games this fall, while navigating the boundaries of an undermanned roster during these uncertain times. However, Kentucky has adjusted well and perhaps found a groove in its latest starting 11, which includes the double threat up front in Hannah Richardson and Jordyn Rhodes, while Brooke Littman leads the backline and handles the net.
Through five games this season, Rhodes is the only player in the league to have netted four goals. The sophomore also leads the team with 12 goals in her career, just four more than co-forward Richardson.
Richardson checked into her first game of the season in week three at South Carolina, and since then, the sophomore has taken a total of eight shots, aiming two of those on frame, in limited minutes.
Senior Julia Grosso proved she was a compliment to the midfield last week against Tennessee, taking a total of three shots – two on frame – and sending a beautiful ball into the top right corner of the net to equalize the contest in just the sixth minute.
Redshirt senior Brooke Littman continues to offer experience to a young Kentucky team, assisting in leading and organizing an athletic and tactical backline. Meanwhile, she has made 36 saves this fall, a game high for the Notre Dame transfer, and she continues to lead the conference in that category since the season opener.
The Tigers are 2-0-1 and moved into the United Soccer Coaches Top 15 for the first time this season on Tuesday, checking in at No. 14. The selection comes after recording back-to-back wins against Ole Miss and then-No. 12 Georgia, recording a 1-0 triumph in both contests. In the process, Sarah Houchin was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, after playing 200 minutes as center back in each of those shutouts.
Auburn narrowly leads the all-time series between the two teams, 12-11-3. The Wildcats last defeated the Tigers on November 5, 2013 in a 2-1 final score at home, but haven’t won on the plains since September 20, 2013 in a 1-0 decision.
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.?
