LEXINGTON, KY ? In one of the most tightly contested league races in memory, the Kentucky women?s soccer team (9-6-3, 4-3-2 SEC) hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores (10-3-5, 6-2-2) in a match that will go a long way in determining participants in the 2006 SEC Tournament.
With teams receiving three points per win and one point per tie, it is conceivable the Wildcats could finish anywhere as high as second in the SEC or not even qualify for the tournament. UK currently sits in the eighth and final spot for the tournament with 14 points and two matches remaining. The Commodores come to Lexington in second place overall in the conference with 20 points and will be playing their final match of the regular season.
While 10 of the 12 SEC teams will wrap up their season Friday night, Kentucky and the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks will close out league play on Sunday in Fayetteville as they make up a match that was postponed in September due to weather.
The Road to Orange Beach, Alabama, site of the SEC Tournament, is as follows:
1st ? Florida (23 pts), 2nd ? Vanderbilt (20), 3rd ? South Carolina (18), 4th ? Tennessee (17), 5th ? Georgia (15), 6th ? Auburn (15), 7th Ole Miss (14), 8th Kentucky (14), 9th ? LSU (12), 10th ? Arkansas (11). Alabama and Mississippi St. have been eliminated from postseason competition. In addition to the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game Friday night, the other matches taking place around the league are Alabama-Auburn, Florida-South Carolina, Arkansas-LSU, Ole Miss-Mississippi State and Georgia-Tennessee.
Not to be lost in all the post-season hoopla is Senior Night as UK seniors Betsy Holbrook and Anne Ogundele will be honored prior to the start of the match.
?We?re in a situation where every match is big, but I think that shows the strength and parity of this league,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?It will be an emotional night for us, being Senior Night, but hopefully we can channel that emotion into our play.?
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 12-8-0 including last season?s 1-0 Commodore victory in Nashville.
The Wildcats come into the weekend having logged six shutouts in their last seven matches going 4-1-2 during that span, while the Commodores come in on a two-game winning streak having scored six goals in their last two outings (2-0 vs. Ole Miss, 4-0 vs. Mississippi St.).
Kickoff between the Cats and Dores is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET with the game being televised live on Fox Sports Net. UK will then travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas where they will take on the Lady?Backs on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. match. Live stats for both matches will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
