Nov. 23, 2013
LOS ANGELES – The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team saw its season come to an end on Friday night at Drake Stadium, as the Wildcats fell to No. 2/2 UCLA in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships, 3-0.
“Congratulations to a well-coached UCLA team that beat us tonight,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “They are a fantastic team who we expect to go far in the tournament. We also appreciate all the operations here at UCLA for being first-class in hosting us. This was a game where we knew certain details had to go our way. Giving up an early goal changed the game, but we are extremely proud of our effort and what we wanted to accomplish this season. I can’t wait to start preparing for 2014 because the potential of the future of this program is so exciting.
“I would be remised if I didn’t give thanks to Mitch Barnhart who flew out across the country today to watch us play. I don’t think there is another AD in the country who would travel this way to support these student-athletes knowing he has to be in Georgia for a football game tomorrow. That just shows the unbelievable dedication and support that he and the UK athletic department has for all 22 sports and the passion that he has for this university.”
The season was yet another one for the record books under Lipsitz, as Kentucky won 14 matches and finished in the top five of the Southeastern Conference for the second year in a row. The senior class of Kayla King, Danielle Krohn, Kacie Kumar, Caitlin Landis and Ashley VanLandingham combined for 51 wins in the last four years, making it the second winningest class in UK women’s soccer history and only the second class to win 10-plus matches all four years.
Kentucky has set new standards under Lipsitz and his staff, as the Wildcats have now hosted an NCAA Tournament match each of the last three seasons, and advancing into the second round the last two.
The Bruins scored early in the match, putting the pressure on early, as junior defender Caprice Dydasco scored her first goal of the season in the fourth minute. Dydasco got the ball wide from goal about 30 yards out and fired a rifle into the far post past a diving Kayla King to her right into the upper 90.
Kentucky would not concede again in the opening stanza, as the Wildcats held UCLA to just one goal on 12 first-half shots and six of them on frame.
Kentucky extended the game early in the second half, as Arin Gilliland and Zoe Swift connected for a few opportunities, but UCLA goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland stood strong for the match, not allowing the Wildcats to score in the match.
UCLA add on another two goals in the second half, as the Bruins stood strong for the 3-0 win.
Courtney Proctor scored her third goal of the season in the 71st minute as she took a ball from the top of the box and launched it to the far post past a diving King. The Bruins then added a third, putting the game out of reach in the 81st minute as Dydasco scored her second goal of the match and second of the season to put UCLA ahead 3-0 with under 10 minutes to go in the match.
UCLA ended up outshooting Kentucky 20-5 overall in the match, with the Bruins putting 12 on target, while holding the Kentucky attach to just one shot on goal the full 90 minutes.
Kentucky has a bright future, as the team will return its entire back line in 2014, as well as two starting midfielders, and two starting forwards.
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
