Kentucky (4-4-1, 1-0-1) looks to extend its unbeaten streak Friday evening when the Cats welcome Alabama (5-5, 1-1) to kick off the home conference portion of the 2004 slate. The Cats and Crimson Tide are scheduled for a 5 p.m. EDT kickoff at the UK Soccer Complex. The match precedes the 7:30 p.m. men?s soccer battle between Kentucky and No. 13 Michigan.
The Cats are aiming to go unbeaten in their sixth-consecutive match after a four-match win streak and a 1-1 tie last Sunday at Arkansas. The Cats have recorded three shutouts and outscored their opponents by a 15-3 count through their last five matches. UK collected its first conference victory last Friday in Baton Rouge, defeating LSU by a 2-0 count.
Junior midfielder Jen Weakley has picked up the pace offensively for Kentucky, scoring four goals in the last three weeks and senior midfielder Alli Haeussler has added three goals. Sophomore forward Elisabeth Jones, last week?s SEC Offensive Player of the Week, has taken over the conference lead in assists with six. Her average of 0.67 assists per game is good for 17th in the NCAA.
Junior Liz Butler has been superb in goal, allowing only one score in her last three starts, a span of 290 minutes of net time. Her goals-against average of 0.45 is the second best for an SEC goalkeeper in conference matches. Her two shutouts have moved her into third place on UK?s career shutouts list with a total of eight. After allowing four first-half goals on Sept. 5 at Michigan State, Butler?s goals-against average has plummeted from 6.08 to 1.48.
Kentucky holds a 5-2 lead in its series against Alabama and has taken the last three matches between the two schools. The Cats seized control of a close match a season ago in Tuscaloosa with three second-half goals, as UK cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Tide. Freshman Jordan O?Banion leads the Tide with seven goals, while junior Libby Probst has chipped in four goals and two assists.
Friday marks the beginning of ?Throwback Weekend? at the UK Soccer Complex. Fans can enjoy discounted ticket prices all weekend long; adults will be admitted for $2 and children will be admitted for $1. UK staff, students and faculty will be admitted free when they present their respective identification cards at the gate. UK soccer scarves will be given out for UK saves throughout the game, and fans will have the opportunity to win $250 in the ?Kicks for Cash? at halftime.
The Cats wrap up their weekend Sunday in a battle for conference supremacy with No. 20 Auburn. Game time is 2 p.m. EDT at the UK Soccer Complex.
