Sept. 12, 2009
AUSTIN, TEXAS – The UK women’s soccer team (2-1-2) plays the final match in a brief two-game road stretch, traveling to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns (2-4-0) in a Sunday matinee.
Kentucky brings a defense into the match that has allowed only two goals on the season in 490 minutes. Wildcat goalie Sydney Hiance recorded her third shutout of the season and the 11th of her career against Morehead State on Wednesday, while lowering her goals against average this season to 0.37, fourth best in the Southeastern Conference.
Offensively, the Wildcats are looking to get on the right track, an issue Lipsitz says is all about winning individual battles.
“We can be as technically sound as we want to be, but in the end it all comes down to winning individual battles,” said Lipsitz. “Until we do that, we’ll continue to have trouble scoring.”
UK’s last goal came in the 18th minute of the second game of the season against Louisville, 381 minutes ago. The Wildcats look as if they might be ready to get the offensive monkey off its back, having managed a season high 12 shots in both of their last two matches.
Giuleana Lopez is Kentucky’s offensive catalyst with three points off a goal and an assist and she has taken a team high 17 shots, seven of them on goal. Jenna Goblirsch has also tallied three points, off a goal and an assist as well.
Kentucky and Texas have met just once before, with the then eighth ranked Longhorns claiming a 3-1 victory over the Wildcats in the season opener at the UK Soccer Complex last year.
The Wildcats scored first in that match on a Laura Novikoff goal coming out of halftime. However, Texas exploded for three goals in just over two minutes for the final 3-1 margin.
Kickoff between the Wildcats and Longhorns is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET. Live stats and a live video web stream will be available at www.UKathletics.com.
