LOUISVILLE, KY ? For the second straight season, the Kentucky and No. 22 ranked Louisville women?s soccer teams needed extra time to determine a winner, however none was found at Cardinal Park on Sunday as the two teams played to a 0-0 draw.
After a scoreless first 90 minutes, the Wildcats (6-0-2) took control throughout most of the extra 20 minutes and while they mounted a couple legitimate scoring opportunities, they were never able to find the back of the net.
Kentucky threatened to claim victory in the second overtime when Megan Jones drew a foul just outside the top of the 18-yard box with barely approximately 5:00 left. Tara Herold took the free kick but sent the ball just over the top of the cross bar.
The Wildcats had the best chance to score of either team in the first overtime when Sarah Gaunt found herself with an open shot approximately 12 yards out with 1:08 left in the first 10-minute overtime period, but fired a shot over the top of the goal.
?Louisville had the run of play in the first half,? said Kentucky head coach Warren Lipka. ?I thought towards the second half we did better and overtime was ours.
?When playing away from home against an opponent of this caliber, we?re happy not losing and going home with a (tie),? said Lipka.
The Cardinals had the game?s first real scoring opportunity in the 22nd minute when Kentucky was called for a foul just above the 18-yard box. Monique Gjini took the free kick for Louisville but fired a shot right in the Wildcats? defensive wall.
The Cardinals had a golden opportunity to get on the board with 20:40 left in the first half when Gjini crossed a pass right in front of the UK goal to Shannon Smyth who fired a shot from point blank range, but UK freshman goalie Sydney Hiance deflected the shot away to keep the match scoreless.
Hiance kept the Cardinals out of the net again in the 34th minute when Jen Avila found herself on a breakaway. Hiance came off her spot and met Avila at the top of the box where she tipped Avila?s shot up just enough for Ashley Stack to come over and clear the ball.
The Wildcats had their first scoring opportunity late in the first half when Kristin Kover took a corner kick with 3:10 left in the half and sent it to a wide open Nathalie Bolder in front of the Louisville goal. Bolder got a solid head on the ball but pushed it just over the cross bar.
The shutout was Hiance?s second straight and the Wildcats? fifth this season.
Kentucky opens SEC play next weekend when they travel south to Auburn and Alabama. The Cats kickoff conference play Friday night at Auburn against the Tigers followed by a Sunday afternoon tilt at Alabama against the Crimson Tide.
