KNOXVILLE, TN ? The Kentucky women?s soccer team (8-5-2, 3-2-1) continued its defensive mastery as they recorded their fourth straight shutout, a 1-0 victory over the 11th ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (7-4-3, 3-2-2).
Kentucky made the most of its opportunities as they managed only three shots, one on goal; however it was the one goal that was the difference in the match. Kelsey Fenix sent a pass right through the Tennessee defense, leading Giuleana Lopez perfectly who then took care of a one-on-one with Tennessee goalie Sarah Kitchin for a 1-0 UK lead in the 18th minute. It was her eighth goal of the season.
?We knew (Giuleana Lopez) was going to be available. It?s hard to get her the ball when it?s just a single person up top but she got the ball, turned the corner, had the ball on her left foot, which is her favorite foot and finished the goal,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?It was a great finish by her but the team effort the whole night was great.?
The shutout was Kentucky senior goalie Anne Ogundele?s ninth shutout of the season tying the school single-season shutout record. She has now recorded 380 consecutive scoreless minutes which includes four straight shutouts.
?We knew we were going to have to come out and defend against one of the best attacking teams in our conference,? said Lipka. ?We knew we were going to have to get one and then defend. We?ve gained our success this year on the defensive end, beginning in the back with Anne (Ogundele) and it goes through out the team and this was a great defensive effort again. We withstood some shots but that?s what it takes to win on the road against a quality team like that.?
The Lady Vols threatened many times through out the match but each time the Wildcat defense turned the UT attack away. However, Tennessee?s most dangerous possession came with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half. Mick Imgram sent a corner into the box that was headed by Jordan Falcusan over to Ali Christoph who took a solid shot but was turned away by Ogundele. The rebound came out to Kristin Doukakis who teed the ball up and drove a shot at the goal but again Ogundele was there for the save.
The Lady Vols appeared to have tied the score at 1-1 in the 55th minute when Imgram put a shot past Ogundele but Tennessee was whistled offside negating the goal.
Imgram created another scoring opportunity when she took a shot from 23 yards out that was headed for just under the cross bar, but Ogundele punched the ball over the crossbar thwarting another Lady Vol opportunity.
Kentucky answered with their own chance in the 85th minute when Tara Herold took a free kick that hit off the cross bar and away from the goal denying the Cats their second goal.
The win ended a six-match losing streak to the Lady Vols and is the ninth shutout of the season for the Cats, the most since the 1995 squad turned in 11 clean sheets.
The Wildcats continue their two game road stretch on Sunday when the team heads to Athens, Georgia to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff between the Cats and Dogs is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
