Aug. 31, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a game that saw Kentucky dictate the flow of possession, tally 17 shots and muscle nine corner kicks, the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team defeated the UNC-Greensboro Spartans 2-0 on Friday night to move to 3-0-0 on the season, in the opening night of the Tropical Smoothie Invitational.
“I definitely felt like we were very dangerous tonight,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “What I really liked was that we created it through passing. We talked at halftime about the need to possess the ball. The longer we had it, the more the game would open up.”
Kentucky got on the board in the 14th minute with a beautifully-crafted pass from junior Caitlin Landis about 25 yards away from goal that caught freshman Cara Ledman in stride making a dynamic run on the near side. After a handful of dribbles to shake the defender, Ledman tucked in the game-winning goal from six yards out to the far post past a diving Jamie Simmons.
The goal was Ledman’s second on the young year while Landis recorded her second assist as well. The tandem of Landis and Ledman hooked up for a UK goal in the season-opener vs. Coastal Carolina in a 2-0 win.
Senior Natalie Horner struck in the 83rd minute off a re-fire from one of UK’s nine corner kicks. The ball was swung in from the near side by junior Danielle Krohn, who connected with Horner who was waiting at the six and flung it past the keeper.
UK continued to have a solid back line all night, only allowing the Spartans four total shots, zero corner kicks and kept a clean sheet for the second time in the three games played thus far in 2012.
“A week ago, I stood here and mentioned that we had great individuals in the back line, but I didn’t think we were playing together. Today was phenomenal.” Lipsitz said.
Kayla King and Kayla Price combined to keep an empty scoreboard for the opposition for the second out of three games. King earned her third win in as many tries Friday night, while Price served 45 minutes in the cage tallying one save.
The move to 3-0-0 on the season puts Kentucky tied atop the Southeastern Conference as one of only five remaining teams without a loss thus far. In addition, the Cats are the only team within the SEC to not allow an opponent to score all season. Kentucky is 3-0-0 for the second consecutive season and the undefeated start marks the third straight year UK has won its first three games.
In earlier action Friday at the Tropical Smoothie Invitational, No. 14 Louisville defeated Southeast Missouri 4-0 to also move to 1-0 on the weekend. The Invitational will wrap up Sunday afternoon with Louisville and UNC-Greensboro scheduled to tangle at noon followed by Kentucky taking on SEMO at 2:30 p.m. ET.
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
