UK Women’s Soccer Hosts Marshall for Home Opener
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team welcomes Marshall to the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex for its home opener on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. ET. The game will be carried on SEC Network+ with Dave Baker and Payton Atkins on the call.
Starting with tomorrow’s contest, admission to all 11 matches at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex will be free to the public for the 2021 season.
The Wildcats are coming off a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought battle against Purdue on Thursday. UK was fast and physical on the offense, and the dynamic frontline duo of Jordyn Rhodes and Hannah Richardson was once again in full force. Richardson found the back of the net from the top of the 18-yard box after an assist from Rhodes, putting Kentucky on the board first in the 30th minute.
The Southeastern Conference announced its preseason watch list ahead of the season opener with four Wildcats receiving a nod from the league. Rhodes was tabbed to the watch list for the second year in a row, while Julia Grosso, Maria Olsen, and Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir appeared on the list for the first time in their careers.
Kentucky returned 21 letterwinners and added 11 newcomers to its roster this fall. The returning players are responsible for 100 percent of goals scored, 98 percent of shots taken, 100 percent of shots on goal, and 100 percent of assists recorded during the 2020-21 season.
While Kentucky boasts ample experience with its returning players, the team also has added plenty of talent with the freshman class which features five defenders, two midfielders, two forwards, and two goalkeepers. Combined with the proven skill set of the returners, the newcomers provide the Wildcats with depth in every position.
Like UK, Marshall’s season opener against Wright State went into double overtime. The Herd dropped a narrow contest, 2-1, on their home turf after a penalty kick goal from the Raiders in the 103rd minute. The lone Marshall goal came from senior Tesia Schray in the 76th minute with freshman Coutney Corcoran on the assist.
A young team, the Herd has 14 newcomers on the roster this year and returned 18 players from a season ago under head coach Michael Swan. Included in the returners is sophomore Abi Hugh, who was named the 2020 C-USA Freshman of the Year. The midfielder was also named to the conference’s all-freshman team and was an all-region selection after leading the Herd with eight goals, 16 points, and 23 shots in her rookie campaign.
Kentucky, who owns a 5-0 all-time series record against the Herd, will look to remain undefeated heading into Sunday’s matchup. The last meeting between the two teams was on Sept. 12, 2010, when Kentucky posted a 1-0 win in front of its home crowd.
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.
