Oct. 14, 2010
UK vs. Alabama_Auburn Game Notes (.pdf)
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a rough ending to its four-game road stretch the Wildcats return home where they will play four of their last five regular season games, beginning with visits from Alabama and Auburn this weekend.
Kentucky (7-6-1, 1-4-1 SEC) struggled to get any offense going last weekend, dropping a pair at LSU (1-0 in 2ot) and Arkansas (2-0). It was the first time since the beginning of October in 2009 that the Wildcats were shut out on the weekend.
“We’ve focused on our motion through the midfield and up top possessing the ball better, having better motion so that we can get in behind against teams,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “It’s something that we’ve struggled with. We really relied on Jenna Goblirsch and Kelsey Hunyadi to do a lot of our attacking and they’re our captains; being without them is extremely difficult. But we can’t spend our time worrying about what we don’t have. We need players to step up and we’ve talked about it all week.”
The Wildcats finished their four-game road stretch with a 1-2-1 mark and while Lipsitz doesn’t mind being on the road, there’s no place like home.
“We love being in front of our fans, we don’t mind traveling because when we’re on the road it’s all about being together and a lot of good times and it’s good for unity,” Lipsitz said. “That being said, there’s nothing like playing at home and there’s nothing like being comfortable in your own surroundings.”
The Wildcats must now prepare for the top two teams in the SEC West in the Crimson Tide and the Tigers.
UK holds an 8-4-1 mark against Alabama, including 5-1-0 in Lexington. The last time Kentucky fell to Bama at home was in 1998. However the Tide has gotten the best of the Cats of late, winning two of the last three meetings.
“(Alabama) Coach (Todd) Bramble is known for having a team that’s great in possession a team that’s great at winning balls and plays really hard for one another,” Lipsitz said. “I really respect the way they play and the way Coach Bramble and his staff work. They’re going to play in a 4-3-3 and play a lot of possession and try and wear us down by having the ball and we want to do exactly the same thing to them.
“I think it’s going to be a very attractive game to watch. We’ve had a few games that have become pretty direct lately and I think this will be a nice, aesthetically pleasing game and pretty exciting.”
UK is led offensively by freshman Caitlin Landis. Landis ranks second with nine points off four goals and an assist. She has taken a team high 39 shots.
Kickoff between the Cats and the Tide is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. Live stats and blog will be available at UKathletics.com.
