Sept. 18, 2011
DAYTON, Ohio. – The UK women’s soccer team (7-1-0) fell victim to the 24th-ranked Dayton Flyers, suffering their first defeat of the season 2-1 on Saturday night at Baujan Field in Dayton, Ohio.
Dayton dominated the first half of play, possessing most of play as well as creating many opportunities. The Flyers recorded three shots on goal and four corner kicks before Kentucky even registered a shot in the opening half.
The Flyers finally broke through in the 31st minute off a set piece when senior forward Josie Grant headed home a beautifully executed corner kick. With the goal, UD became only the second team all year to score first against the Wildcats in 2011. The goal also ended Kayla Price’s 274-minute scoreless streak, allowing just her fifth goal of the year.
Dayton extended their lead to 2-0 off a penalty kick in the 50th minute when Kentucky was called for a handball in the box. Juliana Libertin scored the goal for the Flyers. The second goal of the game for the Flyers marked the first time UK has allowed more than one goal in a game since October 21, 2010 in a 2-1 defeat to Ole Miss. That streak stretches back ten games.
UK’s offense struggled to get going, as the Wildcats didn’t record a shot on goal until the 59th minute, midway through the second half.
The Kentucky goal was scored with just 4:31 to go in the second half when Dayton was called for a handball in the box. Senior captain Kelsey Hunyadi calmly punched in the penalty kick past the keeper on the left side of the net.
UK frantically tried to add another goal in the final minutes, but never could find the back of the net.
“I definitely thought it was a tale of two halves,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “(Dayton) dominated the first half, and I thought that we dominated the second half. You have to give credit to (Dayton head coach) Mike Tucker and his staff, they are a great team, and showed why they are No. 24 in the country. What this young team has to learn is that you can’t give away a half, because good teams will take advantage of that.”
With the loss, Kentucky falls to 3-2-1 all-time vs. Dayton. The defeat was the first-ever loss for Lipsitz against Dayton, as he falls to 5-1-0 all-time vs. the Flyers.
“If you would have told me on Aug. 2nd, when we started training that we would be 7-1 with a high RPI, I would have been ecstatic,” Lipsitz said. “Now, I have to relay that message to the team and make sure they understand that. We have disappointments like tonight, but we have also done so many good things.”
With the loss, UK will carry a 7-1-0 record into Southeastern Conference play, which is tied for Tennessee for the best record in the SEC. To open league play, Kentucky travels to Auburn, Ala. to take on the Auburn Tigers for a Friday night tilt, then to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to play the Crimson Tide of Alabama on Sunday afternoon.
