UK Women’s Soccer Rockets to Record No. 9 in National Polls

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After another two-win weekend for the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team, UK launched itself to No. 9 nationally in the HeroSports Soccer Poll, marking the highest-ranking ever for the Kentucky women’s soccer program in its 23-year history. 

Kentucky is one of three Southeastern Conference teams to be slotted in the top 10, joining the Florida Gators (6th) and the South Carolina Gamecocks (10th). The three teams for the SEC in the top 10 is second to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the most teams by a single conference in the top 10.

The previous program-high for a ranking was No. 13 set back in 2013, when Kentucky advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. 

Kentucky went 2-0-0 this past weekend to move to 8-1-1 overall, and 2-0-0 in the SEC. The Wildcats got a 1-0 win on the road at Alabama on Friday before turning around to beat Butler on Sunday in the weekend capper, 4-1.

Sophomore Katy Keen scored the game-winning goal on Friday night on a corner kick re-fire from Kaitlin Miller, poking home the winner with the outside of her right foot past the keeper.

UK finished its non-conference slate of matches 6-1-1, with many quality wins over teams ranked in the top 50 of the current RPI. UK notched wins over Washington, Ohio, Butler, UNC Greensboro and Louisville.

Kentucky returns to the Bell Soccer Complex on Friday night to face the Missouri Tigers at 7:30 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network+. Sunday’s SEC showdown pits UK against the Arkansas Razorbacks at 6 p.m. ET. That match will also be on the SEC Network+.

HeroSports Women’s Soccer Poll – Top 10

1. North Carolina

2. Virginia

3. Florida State

4. Penn State

5. West Virginia

6. Florida

7. Notre Dame

8. Clemson

9. Kentucky

10. South Carolina

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s soccer team, follow @UKWomensSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.