The Kentucky women?s soccer team (3-2-0) started off its Big 10 challenge weekend on the right foot as they shutout the Ohio State Buckeyes (2-2-1) 3-0.

For the second straight match the Cats drew first blood, scoring a goal midway through the first half off the foot of Kristin Kover. Megan Jones found Kover, who was wide open at the top of the left corner of the 18-yard box, and Kover placed a perfect shot inside the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead at the 28:10 mark.

Sarah Gaunt provided an insurance goal at the 80th minute when she took a pass from Jones and found the upper left corner of the net from 15 yards out for a 2-0 UK lead. The goal was Gaunt?s third of the season and Jones? second assist of the night.

The Wildcats weren?t finished though as they struck for their third goal of the night nearly six minutes later. With a two-on-one Wildcat advantage, Giuleana Lopez played a centering pass to Julie Hull who buried her first collegiate goal for the final 3-0 score.

?This group is getting better and better every week,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?This was a very, very good Ohio State team. We battled all night and put our chances away and defended the ball well. Now we can go enjoy it tonight, but then get back to work (Saturday) at 9:00 and get ready for the Michigan match on Sunday.?

Defensively for the Wildcats, senior goalkeeper Anne Ogundele recorded her second shutout of the season and the eighth of her career. The shutout put her in sole possession of fourth place on Kentucky?s all-time shutout list.

Kentucky out-muscled Ohio State all night, out-shooting the Buckeyes in both halves (8-6, 9-5) and 17-11 over the course of the evening.

The Cats will close out the weekend on Sunday when the team hosts the Michigan Wolverines in a 2:00 p.m. match. Fans can gain free admission by presenting a ticket stub from the Kentucky-Texas State football game. Those in attendance will have an opportunity to get their picture made with the Wildcat.