KENTUCKY WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS IN OVERTIME TO CLEMSON IN NCCAA TOURNAMENT
CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team (12-8-1) lost its fifth consecutive NCAA match, losing 1-0 in the first overtime period to No. 13 Clemson (14-4-1) at Clemson’s Riggs Field on Friday, Nov. 16. Senior forward Annie Gage was held scoreless and finished her career tied with Kim LaBelle (1994-97) on the all-time points scored list at UK with 107.
“I think we had every chance to win that game,” Coach Warren Lipka said. “It’s a heart-breaking loss and it’s very tough to lose like that in overtime. We fought hard and played well enough to win. It’s tough to come this far, have so many chances and then have it all end on one play.”
The Tigers had the first opportunity to light the scoreboard when junior forward Heather Beem headed a ball to the center of the field and an awaiting Deliah Arrington pushed her shot wide-left of an open UK net in the 11th minute. Five minutes later, Clemson was able to penetrate the Kentucky defense and get Kentucky goalkeeper Beth Wells out of position, leaving a gaping lane leading to the Wildcat goal. Sophomore Lindsay Browne, CU’s leading scorer, fired a shot but senior forward Kate Qually was there to assist Wells and knock the ball away to quell Clemson’s attack.
It took the Wildcats 23 minutes to get their first shot on goal when Qually blasted a shot from the right of the box that was saved by Clemson netminder Katie Carson. From there, the Cats continued with a barrage of shots, sending five unanswered blasts on the Tiger net. Sophomore Lauren Russell energized the UK lineup, coming off the bench to spark the Wildcat offense. The Cincinnati, Ohio native started the run by taking a pass from Qually directly in front of the goal and launching a shot from six yards out that was saved impressively by Carson in the 34th minute.
Russell continued to invigorate the Cats, sending the ball deep into Tiger territory where sophomore midfielder Heather Saas went to work. Saas controlled the ball and sent a cross to freshman Kathy Fulk who headed a shot from the left post, but Carson was there again to extinguish the Cats’ fire. Kentucky had one final chance at the Clemson net, as junior Christal Mattingly was awarded a corner kick with five minutes to play in the period, but a shot from Gage sailed high, finishing the half at an even 0-0.
The Wildcats held possession on the Tiger half of the field for the first eight minutes of the second half before Clemson answered. Beem found Arrington who played the ball from the center of the UK box with a challenging Wells approaching. Arrington, a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2001, slipped the ball past Wells, but senior defender Melinda Buemi was their to knock the ball out of bounds in front of the line for UK’s second team save.
Kentucky again survived a scare at 66:12 when Arrington took a cross and aimed a shot at the bottom right corner of the UK net. However, sophomore Alli Haeussler was there to aid an out-of-position Wells, clearing the ball out of the UK box. With 16 minutes to play, senior defender Aimee Brown was whistled for a yellow card when she inadvertently tripped Arrington charging toward the UK net from the left flank. The Tigers could not capitalize on the opportunity, as the Wildcats were able to clear the ball into safe territory.
The teams continued to battle evenly, but play came to a halt with 19 seconds remaining in regulation when Fulk lay injured near the center of the field and had to be carried of the field by her Kentucky teammates. Fulk was reacting to play the ball, planted and twisted her knee. It is the second time in as many games that a UK forward had to be helped off the field, as All-SEC forward Keri Boyce suffered the same injury in last Sunday’s loss to Florida in the SEC semifinals.
Tied 0-0 at the end of regulation, it only took Clemson 1:24 to record the game-winning goal, ending UK’s hopes of earning the program’s first NCAA victory. Senior Leigh Clark won possession of the ball and fed a darting Cindy Mullinix that connected on a her second shot of the game from 22 yards out. The Tigers will now battle No. 16 Florida State (15-7-1) who defeated No. 19 Auburn (11-8-1), 1-0, in the first of two games played at Riggs Field. The Wildcats, earning NCAA appearances in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001, fall to 0-5-0 in NCAA matches and have lost their past two in overtime, falling 3-2 in an extra period to Texas A&M on Nov. 4, 1999.
The Wildcats end the 2001 campaign at 12-8-1, winning 10 or more games for the seventh time in the program’s 10-year history. Senior Annie Gage did not score against Clemson, ending her career as UK’s all-time leader in shots, assists and tied in points. The overtime setback also marked the final game for Wildcat seniors Melinda Buemi, Aimee Brown, Susie Ledzianowski, Kate Qually and Beth Wells.
UK0000CU 0011Goals: Mullinix, Cindy, CU (Clark, Leigh), 91:24Shots: UK- 11, CU- 15Saves: UK- 8, CU- 7Corner Kicks: UK- 4, CU- 3Fouls: UK- 21, CU- 8
– UK –
