Oct. 28, 2001
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team (11-6-0/5-4-0 Southeastern Conference) netted three first half goals to hold off Auburn (8-6-1/4-4 SEC), 3-1, in SEC play on Sunday afternoon at the UK Soccer Complex. The win clinches a SEC Tournament bid for the Wildcats, qualifying them for SEC postseason play in each of the nine years the conference has sanctioned a champion in women’s soccer (1993-2001).
Senior Kate Qually scored her third goal of the season just two minutes into the start of the game to set the pace for the Wildcats. Junior Keri Boyce answered Qually’s goal eight minutes later by rocketing an unassisted shot past Auburn goalkeeper Megan Rivera from 25 yards out. The goal was Boyce’s 28th of her career, moving the Birdsboro, Pa. native into a third-place tie on UK’s career goals scored list with Carrie Staber (1995-98). Auburn then sliced the lead to one as freshman Sara Power lit the scoreboard on a bouncer that slipped past UK goalie Beth Wells at the 23:53 point of the first period. The clock didn’t run for a complete three minutes before it came to a halt as senior Annie Gage placed her fourth goal past opposing netminders in two games, giving the Wildcats an insurance goal at the 26:24 mark.
“This is the first complete weekend in a long time,” UK coach Warren Lipka said. “We’re much more organized than we have been and it’s staring to show – we’re coming on when we need to be coming on and that’s towards the end of the season going into the SEC Tournament.”
The first half ended at 3-1 with both Kentucky and Auburn posting five shots on goal. The Cats played tenacious defense in the second period, holding Auburn to just two shots while managing four of their own. Rivera, who had not allowed more than two goals in any match this season, recorded two saves while Wells collected three in the UK victory.
Kentucky will play host to Indiana in its final regular season match this Friday, Nov. 2 at the UK Soccer Complex. Seniors Aimee Brown, Melinda Buemi, Annie Gage, Susie Ledzianowski, Kate Qually and Beth Wells will be recognized before the match. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
AU 1 0 1UK 3 0 3Goals: Qually, UK (Buemi, McCue), 2:10, Boyce, UK (Unassisted), 10:49, Power, AU (Steinmann, Winters), 23:53, Gage, UK (Unassisted), 26:24.Shots: UK- 9, AU- 7Saves: UK- 3, AU- 2Corner Kicks: UK- 2, AU- 2Fouls: UK- 13, AU- 9Attendance: 312
– UK –
