Nov. 12, 2001

KENTUCKY EARNS AT-LARGE BERTH TO NCAA WOMEN’S SOCCER TOURNAMENT

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team (12-7-1) earned an at-large bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament and will play No. 14 Clemson (13-4-1) in Clemson, S.C. this Friday, Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Wildcats, making their fifth NCAA appearance and third in four years, are 0-2-0 in the overall series with the Tigers.

“Obviously we’re excited to be back in the tournament after being on the bubble and missing it last season,” Coach Warren Lipka said. “This is a culmination of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Our team overcame mid-season adversity, we came together and we were able to accomplish our goal of getting to the tournament. We’re excited and ready to travel to Clemson and play.”

The Wildcats defeated No. 18 Tennessee, 4-2, in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament before being eliminated by Florida, 3-1, in the semifinal round last weekend in Baton Rouge, La. Clemson, currently ranked 14th nationally by Soccerbuzz Magazine, tied Wake Forest, 1-1, on Thursday, Nov. 8 in a first-round Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament match that saw the Demon Deacons advance in a penalty-kick shootout.

Kentucky is winless in four NCAA appearances, earning berths in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999. In its last NCAA showing, the Wildcats played host to Texas A&M and were defeated 3-2 in overtime at the UK Soccer Complex on Nov. 14, 1999. Senior Annie Gage and junior Christal Mattingly both recorded goals in the loss. UK finished the 1999 season at 16-3-2, the best record in the program’s 10-year history.

Auburn (11-7-1) and No. 19 Florida State (13-6-0) round out the first-round pairings in Clemson and will play in the first game on Friday at noon. Clemson and Kentucky will follow at 2:30 p.m. For NCAA Tournament information and updates, please visit www.NCAAchampionships.com.

– UK –