Kentucky kicks off the conference portion of its 2004 slate Friday evening in Baton Rouge, La., when the Cats meet LSU. The match is set for 8 p.m. EDT at the LSU Soccer Complex. Live scoring will be available at www.lsusports.net.

Kentucky (3-4) enters the match victorious in its last three matches after beginning the season with four consecutive losses. The Cats were outscored 13-5 in their opening four matches, but have outscored their opponents by a 12-2 margin in wins over Cincinnati, Western Kentucky and Missouri.

Leading the way for the Wildcats is sophomore forward Elisabeth Jones, the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Jones assisted freshman Callie Lanphier on her game-winning goal last Friday against Missouri and leads the Southeastern Conference with six assists. Jones is 12th in the NCAA in assists per game at 0.86. The Nicholasville, Ky., native has contributed at least one point in six of UK?s seven matches in 2004. Lanphier and senior midfielder Alli Haeussler also enjoyed strong showings in non-conference play, contributing three goals apiece.

LSU (5-3) is led by forwards Artie Brown and Stacy Bishop. Brown leads the SEC in game-winning goals and is tied for second in the league in goals scored. Bishop is among the top three leaders in six offensive categories and enters the match with four goals and five assists.

Kentucky has claimed all seven matches against the Tigers, including a 2-0 defeat of LSU a year ago in Lexington. Inclement weather conditions canceled the Cats? most recently scheduled regular-season match in Baton Rouge two seasons ago. Kentucky has blanked LSU in four of the seven matches and has outscored the Tigers by a 23-3 margin. UK has outscored LSU by a 12-2 count in three meetings in Baton Rouge.

Kentucky wraps up its weekend road swing Sunday at 2 p.m. EDT when the Cats meet Arkansas in Fayetteville.