Oct. 5, 2001
KENTUCKY WOMEN’S SOCCER – Doug Rentz, media contact – drent2@uky.edu – (859) 257-3838 – ukathletics.com
For Immediate Release: October 5, 2001
NO. 16 KENTUCKY SHUTOUTS SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 16th ranked University of Kentucky women’s soccer team resumed Southeastern Conference play on Friday night as it traveled to Columbia, S.C. to do battle with the Gamecocks of South Carolina. The Wildcats (8-2-0/2-0-0 SEC) blanked the Gamecocks (5-3-2/0-2-0 SEC) 1-0 as senior goalkeeper Beth Wells recorded her conference-leading fifth shutout of the season.
“South Carolina plays a very direct style and they are difficult to defend,” UK coach Warren Lipka said. “It was the hard-fought game we were expecting from them – it wasn’t pretty but we took advantage of opportunities given to us tonight. Anytime you can win on the road in the SEC, you take it.”
The Wildcats, looking to snap a two-game losing skid after dropping both games in last weekend’s Traditional Bank Invitational, lit the scoreboard first at the 36:01mark of the first period. Kentucky capitalized off a corner kick taken by senior Annie Gage as sophomore Alli Haeussler controlled Gage’s kick in front of the USC goal and slipped it to junior forward Keri Boyce who was in position to the right of the net.
Gage increased her all-time UK career assists mark to 30, while Hauessler garnered her first helper of the season. Boyce also moved into a tie with Gage on UK’s career goals list with 27, good for third place behind Carrie Staber (1995-1998) with 28 and Kim LaBelle’s 44 goals from 1994 to 1997. Wells is now four shutouts away from tying Carrie Kuhnell’s career mark of 23 set from 1995 to 1998. Senior Aimee Brown played solid in the UK defense, clearing balls and keeping the Gamecocks away from Wells consistently throughout the match.
“Carolina is always a tough and physical team,” Brown said. “Every time we play them it’s a war and we were lucky to get out with the one-goal win – we’ll be sore tomorrow but definitely ready to go on Sunday against Florida.
The Wildcats continue their road swing on Sunday, Oct. 7 as they travel to Gainesville, Fla. for a 2 p.m. match with the Gators. UK will look to enter the win column for the first time in the program’s 10-year history vs. Florida as the Gators own an 8-0 series lead over the Cats.
UK101USC000Goals: Boyce, UK (Haeussler, Gage), 36:01Shots: UK- 8, USC- 11Saves: UK- 5, USC- 3Corner Kicks: UK- 3, USC- 6Fouls: UK 15, USC- 9
– UK –
