No. 9 Kentucky Topples Arkansas In Rugged 2-1 Affair
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time since 2011, the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team downed the Arkansas Razorbacks, 2-1 on Sunday in a rugged, physical affair that featured over 30 fouls.
Kentucky got off to a fast start, with a goal from freshman Sophie Babo in the fifth minute off a flick from Michaela Dooley with her back to the goal as the play started. Babo’s goal was her second of the year. The ball was played to the left side from Raetzman, who won the game for Kentucky in the midfield with her dynamic playmaking on Sunday night. Raetzman’s pass connected with Dooley on the left flank, who served it into Babo beating the goalkeeper to the near post.
UK went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead, edging out the Razorbacks 7-3 in shots, and only forcing goalkeeper Katelyn Jensen to make one save.
Kentucky would go up 2-0 in the 78th minute as junior midfielder Kaitlin Miller slotted home a Zoe Swift pass across the face of the box from 12 yards out to double the Wildcats’ lead. Swift took control of a bouncing ball with her back to goal about 30 yards from the net and took her defender wide beating her to the edge and playing the ball across.
UK would have a penalty kick shout in the 78th minute as Swift made a 70-yard run 1v1 with the Razorback centerback and was tackled in the area, but there was no call, and play-on was the decision from the center referee.
Arkansas would make things interesting in the 81st minute as Alexandra Fischer scored her first goal of the year just two minutes later on a counterattack to make it 2-1.
Kentucky would then close out the match thanks to the backline play of Olivia Jester, Alex Carter, Allie Gorgol, Cara Ledman and Kelly Novak, who cleared all remaining Arkansas chances for the equalizer.
The Wildcats return to the pitch on Friday night as a huge showdown with the No. 7 Florida Gators looms in Gainesville, Fla., at 7 p.m. ET. The match will be shown live on the SEC Network+, WatchESPN and ESPN3.
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.
