LEXINGTON, Ky.– University of Kentucky freshman Annie Gage scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the UK women’s soccer teamto a 4-1 win over Georgia at the UK Soccer Complex, Sunday. The win puts Kentucky atop the SEC Eastern Division standings with a 3-1conference record and improved the Wildcats to 4-5-1 overall.
“This was a great win for us,” Kentucky head coach Warren Lipka said. “We put together two good games this weekend with the win today and thewin over Tennessee on Friday. We played hard and got a great result.”
Gage put Kentucky ahead just eight minutes into the game as she scored herfirst collegiate goal on a pass from Jennifer McMaster. Her shot from inside the left side of the 18-yard box just caught the far post and bounced in togive UK a 1-0 lead. UK midfielder Brooke Hergesell scored what would prove to be the game-winner 15 minutes later when her shot went over thehead of the Georgia goalkeeper to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Hergesell has now scored a goal in each of UK’s last three games. McMasterpicked up her second assist of the day on the play.
Gage increased the UK lead to 3-0 just four minutes into the second half when her corner kickbounced untouched into the Georgia goal. Georgia would add a goal in the 61st minute when Stephanie Yarem put a rebound past UK freshmangoalkeeper Beth Wells to cut the lead to 3-1. However, Gage and McMaster would hook up for their third goal of the game eight minutes later toput the Bulldogs away as McMaster volleyed a Gage pass into the Georgia net for the final margin. Defensively, the Wildcats withstood 14second-half shots from the Bulldogs, including one series where UK defender Allison Peppers cleared a Georgia shot off the line.
UK goalkeeperBeth Wells made her first collegiate start and registered five saves, playing the full 90 minutes.
Kentucky returns to action next Friday as the Wildcatsplay host to Detroit-Mercy at the UK Soccer Complex. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Georgia
Georgia 0 1 1Kentucky 2 2 4Scoring:Kentucky - Gage (McMaster), 8:35; Hergesell (McMaster), 23:46; Gage (unassisted), 49:41; McMaster (Gage), 68:52Georgia - Yarem (unassisted), 60:37Shots: Kentucky - 10; Georgia - 18Corner Kicks: Kentucky - 4; Georgia - 4Goalkeeper Saves: Kentucky - 5; Georgia - 2 Fouls: Kentucky - 10; Georgia - 9
