The Kentucky women?s soccer team looks to build on the momentum of last Sunday?s success as the Wildcats (6-5-1, 1-2-0 SEC) host nationally ranked South Carolina and Florida this weekend at the UK Soccer Complex.
The Kentucky offense has begun to click lately as evidenced by the team?s 3-0 victory over Alabama on Sunday and its 27 shots over the weekend. By comparison, the Wildcats recorded only 18 shots in their three matches prior to last weekend.
?Giuleana (Lopez) and Megan (Jones) are beginning to play really well together,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?I think Callie (Lanphier) has really stepped up from the beginning of the season to now and that?s exactly what we need. This is the time of year where we need people to start picking up their play and stepping up where we need it.?
The Wildcats open the weekend with the 29th ranked (SoccerBuzz) South Carolina Gamecocks (9-3-1, 3-0-1). USC comes to the Commonwealth unbeaten in their last seven matches, posting a 6-0-1 record during that time. The Gamecocks are led by Felicia Schroeder who has tallied 16 points (7g, 2a) thus far.
UK will combat Schroeder and the Gamecock offense with a defense that ranks third in the conference in goals allowed (9). Senior goalie Anne Ogundele anchors the Kentucky defense with a league best six shutouts and a 0.72 goals-against-average that ranks third in the SEC.
Kentucky leads the all-time series with South Carolina 9-2-0 with five of the victories coming via the shutout. The five clean-sheets against the Gamecocks marks the most shutouts by UK against an SEC opponent.
The Florida Gators (7-4-1, 3-1-0) play a Friday night match at Vanderbilt before traveling to Lexington for a Sunday afternoon affair with the Wildcats. Florida, who currently ranks as high as 16th (SoccerTimes.com) in some polls, is led offensively by Stacy Bishop, who has recorded a team high six goals and two assists for a team leading 14 points.
Kickoff between the Wildcats and the Gamecocks is scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. It will be Girl Scout night at the UK Soccer Complex. All scouts in uniform will be able to enter complex free of charge. Sunday?s match is slated for a 1:00 p.m. ET start and will be televised live on SUN Sports. Live stats will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
