The University of Kentucky women?s soccer team finished off their spring season with a 1-1 tie against the West Virginia Mountaineers. West Virginia, a member of the Big East Conference, has been a regular in the NCAA Tournament and in the national rankings over the last five years.
The Wildcats and Mountaineers traded momentum throughout the first half of play, but West Virginia was able to break the scoreless tie with eight minutes remaining in the half when a bad clear by a Wildcat defender went out for a Mountaineer corner kick. The Cats were caught flat-footed on the set piece and WVU finished the corner kick for the 1-0 lead.
UK answered twenty-two minutes into the second stanza when West Virginia had a miscue of its own on a goal kick. Junior Kate Rowlands redirected the short kick and put freshman Cindy Abbott in behind the Mountaineer defense. Abbott went in to confront the keeper and calmly finished the opportunity to draw the Cats even. Abbott, a forward from Austin, TX, recorded her first goal in a Wildcat uniform.
The teams traded attacking surges for the remainder of the second half, but neither was able to break through for a clear chance as the game ended in a draw with no overtime periods played.
?We tried some different things today, and overall, I was pleased,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?It was great to see Cindy (Abbott) get her first goal. She has been working really hard. Both teams were able to capitalize on the others? mistakes to score. That is what the spring games are about ? trying some different looks as well as working through the weaknesses and mistakes, and becoming a stronger, more consistent team. I think we saw some good soccer at times, but there is still plenty of work to be done before next fall.?
The 2006 SEC Tournament Champions finished the spring schedule undefeated at 6-0-4 and conceded a total of only 3 goals to their 10 opponents. The Cats accomplished this with newcomer redshirt freshman Laura Baker logging every minute in goal as well as having four players out rehabbing after suffering various surgeries over the winter. Three of the four were regular starters for the Cats in 2006. All are expected to return to the Kentucky line-up with a clean bill of health next fall.
The team will now head into final exams before the summer break. All returnees and newcomers are set to report on August 12th for pre-season camp and will open the schedule with an exhibition game at Morgantown, WV against the Mountaineers on Saturday, August 18th.
