Freshman Alicia Browning of Ft. Thomas, Ky. netted two goals against Bowling Green to lead the Kentucky women?s soccer team to a 4-0 victory on a beautiful Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
?We watched the film from Wednesday and saw how slow our attacking speed was,? said head coach Warren Lipka. ?I thought it was good in the first half, but much better in the second half.
?I thought our back four were great tonight. There was tremendous unity in the back along with good, hard, physical play and that?s what we need from them.?
Kentucky (3-0-1) was able to break through for its first goal at the 8:46 mark of the first half. Alicia Browning was able to connect on her second goal of the season on a cross from Ashley Stack that she was able to deflect into the back of the net past a helpless Zabek.
With the late first half goal, UK was able to head to the locker room with a slender lead at 1-0. The Wildcats outshot the Falcons (1-2-0) 6-3 in the first half, creating more scoring chances, as well as staying in their form.
A Kentucky goal by Laura Novikoff in the 30th minute gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. It was the freshman?s third goal on the season, and her third in as many games.
The goal came on a beautifully executed set corner when Nicola Holdsworth played it short to Tara Herold. Herold dribbled around a defender and played a perfect pass back to Holdsworth who crossed the ball from the left side into the six-yard box. Fortunately for the Blue and White, the six-foot-three inch Novikoff was waiting there to head it into the back of the net.
UK was able to continue controlling the pace and possession, taking time off the clock, before attacking again.
In the 65th minute, the Wildcats were able to increase their lead to 3-0 when Megan Jones crossed a ball into the box where it bounced around before the goal keeper could get a hand on it. When she did, it was deflected to Browning who was able to volley it from her right foot into the goal. It was her second goal on the night, and third on the season, matching Novikoff for the team lead.
?This couldn?t be better timing for the freshmen, because of the injuries we?ve incurred,? said Lipka. ?They?ve stepped up their play. They?re not playing like freshmen, they?re playing like veterans and that bodes well for us in the future.?
The Wildcats scored one last goal in the 89th minute as a run by Sarah Gaunt was crossed into the box. It scooted past Novikoff and landed at the feet of Callie Lanphier. Lanphier was able to one-time it past the Bowling Green goalie, into the upper-90 on the right side for the score.
The Wildcats outshot the Falcons 15-7 and were able to control the pace for much of the match with Jones and Gaunt setting up their teammates numerous times throughout the night. In goal, Laura Baker made some terrific saves for the Wildcats, earning her third shutout in four games this season.
The pace of the match was fast from the get-go for the Wildcat offense. In the 36th minute, the Wildcats got their first scoring opportunity when Jones received a ball into the box and was able to center it to Nicola Holdsworth who was unable to direct it in. The ball remained loose, but Bowling Green keeper Christy Zabek was able to scoop up the rebound before a charging Gaunt could pick it up.
Several minutes later, Jones received a cross from Julie Hull from about 30 yards out, but she was unable to get much on the header. Nevertheless, the tone was set that the Wildcats were coming out aggressively to try and grab an early lead.
Bowling Green got its best scoring chance of the first half when a Kentucky foul committed by Kelly Miller just outside the box, set up a free kick that was taken by Bowling Green midfielder Meagan Moran. The ball was sent into the box, but none of her teammates were able to get much power or direction on it to keep pressure on the Kentucky defense.
In the opening minutes of the second half, a misplayed ball in the box by Kate Hughes nearly gave Bowling Green the equalizer it was looking for. Baker was able to come off of her line, however, and punch the ball away to a teammate before the attacking Falcon player could get to it.
The UK Women?s team returns to action on Sunday against Ohio University at the UK Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for noon.
