The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team beat the buzzer to claim its sixthSoutheastern Conference win on Sunday, Oct. 22, when the Wildcats defeated Arkansas, 2-1.
Senior Emily Oetjen placed the deciding goal in the net with just eight seconds left on the clockto move the Cats to 13-4-0 on the season and 6-3-0 in conference play.
The SEC battle was the final regular season home game for UK, and traditional SeniorDay festivities preceded the game. The Cats paid tribute to four-year letterwinners JamieDellbringge, Emily Oetjen, Jen Reese and assistant coach Margo Hafer.
The game got off to a slow start, going scoreless in the first half, but the Cats wasted notime in the second period with Dellbringge putting the ball between the pipes in the 50th minuteoff an Annie Gage assist. The Lady Razorbacks, who were coming off of a 4-0 loss toVanderbilt on Friday, wouldn’t cower. Sophomore Pam Pesnell grabbed the tying goal in the68th minute from eight yards out, with an assist being credited to Holly Collins.
The game looked destined for overtime, as the Cats got several opportunities in thewaning moment over regulation to no avail. UK got its final chance when Annie Gage set up thedeciding corner kick with 11 seconds on the clock, and that was all the Cats needed. Gage’skick sailed to Lauren Russell, who found Oetjen for the final shot.
This was an incredibly hard-fought battle for us, Coach Warren Lipka said. Winningthe game with eight seconds left is a great confidence booster for our team. We need thatconfidence going into the SEC tournament.
The Wildcats return to action on Friday, Oct. 27, when they travel to Indianapolis, Ind., toface Butler. The Wildcats will then travel to Bloomington, Ind., to finish the regular seasonagainst the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday, Oct. 29. The SEC tournament takes place Nov. 2-5 inAthens, Ga.
AGATE
1 2 FArkansas 0 1 1 Kentucky 0 2 2
Attendance: 274Scoring Dellbringge, UK (Gage), 49:26; Pesnell, NU (Collins), 67:34; Oetjen, UK (Russell),89:52.Shots UK: 15; UA: 4Corner Kicks UK: 6; UA: 1Goalkeeper Saves UK: Wells-1, UA: 3 Fouls – UK: 12; UA: 12
