Careers end for six UK seniors

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Ole Miss broke a 1-1 tie early in the second half and the Rebels held on for a 2-1 victory over Kentucky in the opening round of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. The loss dashes Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament hopes and ends the Cats’ season at 6-9-4.

The Cats and Rebels (14-4-2) exchanged fruitless scoring opportunities in the first 35 minutes before finding their respective goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half. In the 37th minute, Kentucky goalkeeper Liz Butler emerged from her box in an effort to corral a loose ball, and Ole Miss quickly capitalized. Hillary Beckman beat Butler to the ball, drove around Butler and sent a 15-yarder into the net for a 1-0 Rebel lead. Kentucky’s Elizabeth Ramsey, a newly-minted 2003 All-SEC First Team honoree, responded just before the end of the half. Ramsey took advantage of a Rebel defender’s miscue, taking control of the ball 15 yards from the goal. Ramsey drove through the middle of the box and drilled an eight-yard right footer to the right of Rebel goalkeeper Brittany Gillespie to knot the tally at one.

The Rebels reclaimed the lead in the 49th minute of play. Brittney Potts took a feed from Karen Hall, beating Butler to her right from 10 yards out to gives Ole Miss a 2-1 lead. Kentucky registered a significant scoring opportunity one minute later, but Ashley Schillig’s line drive was saved by Gillespie. Ramsey had another chance in the 54th minute, but Gillespie stood tall, once again. Kentucky’s last serious threat came with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Jamie Hutchison sent a well-played cross toward the middle of the box in Ramsey’s direction, but the ball just missed Ramsey’s outstretched leg six yards outside of the goal.

The loss ends the sterling careers turned in by Kentucky seniors Kara McCue, Elizabeth Ramsey, Lauren Russell, Heather Saas, Jen Wilkinson and Amber Wilson and ends Kentucky’s NCAA appearance streak at two.