July 21, 1998

After two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1995 and ’96, the Kentucky women’s soccer team faced a tough rebuilding year in 1997. After all, 17 players were getting their first shot at Division I soccer and UK was forced to virtually replace a defensive unit, depleted by graduation, that had allowed an SEC-low 20 goals in 1996. However, the Wildcats nearly managed to defy expectations, falling just short of their second SEC Tournament Championship game appearance in three years.

Kentucky tested itself early, playing national powers Clemson and Michigan in the opening two games of the season, coming away with a pair of hard-fought losses, as the Tigers and Wolverines were two of the seven UK opponents who would ultimately reach the NCAA Tournament. But the young UK team showed its resiliency the following weekend, responding with a win over No. 20 Wisconsin and a tie with Marquette to claim first place at the Wisconsin Invitational Tournament. Defender Allison Peppers earned the highlight of the weekend, picking up tournament Defensive Most Valuable Player honors, while goalkeeper Carrie Kuhnell, midfielder Jen Reese and forwards Kim LaBelle and Jennifer McMaster were named to the All-Tournament team. Peppers’ play also earned her a spot on Soccer America’s Team of the Week.

UK opened Southeastern Conference play with a tough loss to defending SEC champion Florida, before pulling out perhaps its most thrilling victory of the year. Trailing South Carolina 2-1 early in the second half, UK rallied to tie the score, only to see the Lady Gamecocks take a seemingly insurmountable 3-2 lead at the 85:56 mark. However, the Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff and raced downfield to equalize an amazing nine seconds later – at the 86:05 mark – to force overtime. In the extra frame, Carrie Staber dribbled the ball towards the South Carolina goal, dishing off to Kim LaBelle, who connected on the game-winner in the 100th minute. In its next two games, the Wildcats showed their youth, dropping a pair of one-goal losses to regional foes Butler and Evansville. But again, UK responded, posting a pair of crucial SEC victories.

Kentucky spotted Tennessee a 2-0 lead early in the first half before goals >from LaBelle and Jaime Dellbringge tied the game at halftime. With the game seemingly headed for overtime, Brooke Hergesell scored to give UK the 3-2 come-from-behind win. In their next game, the Wildcats wasted no time getting ahead of Georgia. Annie Gage scored the first of her two goals just eight minutes into the match and Hergesell added what would prove to be her second-straight game-winning goal as UK cruised to a 4-1 win over the eventual NCAA Tournament participants. A 4-0 win over Detroit gave UK its third straight win before the Wildcats would fall victim to their own tough schedule. A loss to Washington State was followed by losses to Cincinnati and Nebraska, both of whom would reach the NCAA Tournament.

But, with SEC play looming once again, UK posted results when it mattered. The Wildcats travelled to Starkville, Miss., where Staber scored a goal and an assist to lead UK to a 4-0 win over league foe Mississippi State, while McMaster added a goal and an assist in the Wildcats’ 2-1 win at Ole Miss two days later.

A 3-0 win against Arkansas gave UK a 6-1 record in Southeastern Conference play and within striking distance of its first SEC Eastern Division crown. However, it was not to be, as UK fell to arch-rival Vanderbilt, 3-1, in Nashville to finish the SEC season with a 6-2 conference mark. After a pair of losses to Northwestern and Indiana ended the regular season, UK headed to Gainesville, Fla. for the 1998 Southeastern Conference Tournament.

First up was a rematch with Auburn, who had knocked UK out the first round of the 1996 SEC Tournament – held at the Wildcats’ home field in Lexington. UK withstood a blistering 27 shots from the Tigers, but did not allow a goal, as goalkeeper Carrie Kuhnell registered 12 saves. McMaster scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 32nd minute, converting a pass from LaBelle. Staber added an insurance goal in the 54th minute, scoring on a pass from Annie Gage to give Kentucky a 2-0 victory. The win advanced UK to the semifinals, where the Wildcats would again face rival Vanderbilt. The Commodores took command of the game early, scoring on a penalty kick in the 14th minute before adding a second goal 10 minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into the lockerroom. But Kentucky did not give up, battling back to tie the game. Staber headed home a Gage corner kick to pull UK within one at the 75:03 mark. Just over two minutes later, LaBelle and Alison Rooney combined to equalize – LaBelle’s final goal giving her an impressive 107 points for her UK career. However, Vanderbilt scored in the 87th minute to claim a 3-2 victory and deny UK its second trip to the SEC Tournament championship game in three years. LaBelle earned All-Tournament honors for the third straight year, matching her third straight All-SEC recognition – making her the first player in SEC history to earn both awards three consecutive years. Peppers also earned All-SEC honors, marking the third straight year that UK had at least two players earn all-conference recognition. In addition, Peppers and LaBelle joined seven other Wildcats on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.