Kentucky Women’s Soccer Hosts Bowling Green on Thursday Night
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky opens its 2019 season with a matchup against Bowling Green at The Bell on Thursday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Dave Baker and former Wildcat soccer player Payton Atkins on the call.
“It will be a tough test against Bowling Green,” Kentucky coach Ian Carry said. “I’m looking forward to that game because it’s always nice to open up against a team that have won their (conference) tournament and won their regular (season title) the year before and went and played one of the powerhouses of the NCAA in Penn State in the first round last year. It’s not an easy game, but we’ll work our tails off and make sure we are prepared going into it.”
The Wildcats enter the opener with 15 new players for 2019, with 14 freshman and one transfer, junior midfielder Tatiana Hagan, joining the fray. UK also returns several key players including three forwards in Marissa Bosco, Gina Crosetti and Miranda Jimenez, a trio that was named to the 2019 SEC Preseason Watch List.
The Falcons played an exhibition match on Aug. 14 against Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, winning 3-0 over the Golden Grizzlies. Sophomore Alexis Miller and freshmen Kennedy White and Jasmijn Dijsselhof scored the goals for BGSU. Bowling Green finished the 2018 season with a record of 14-5-3, winning the MAC championship in the process.
Looking forward, Kentucky hosts Western Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Bell, a match that will also be streamed live on SEC Network+. The Hilltoppers host Belmont on Thursday night before traveling to Lexington.
Storylines
The Freshmen Have Arrived
Kentucky added 14 freshmen to its roster for the 2019 season. After an injury-riddled season in 2018, the Wildcats hope that a deeper side will provide more competition to a young squad that features 20 first or second-year players.
Welcome Back To Lexington
UK has only played Bowling Green one time in its history, defeating the Falcons 4-0 in 2007 in Lexington.
Transfer Season
In addition to adding a loaded freshman class, Ian Carry and his staff also added a JUCO transfer in Tatiana Hagan from Reno, Nevada. Hagan comes from Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington, where she contributed to the school’s 2016, 2017 and 2018 North Division Championships.
Get To Know: Bowling Green Falcons
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Head Coach: Matt Fannon (Third Season)
Record: 27-12-4 at BGSU
Last Time Out: The Falcons defeated Oakland University 3-0 in an exhibition match on Aug. 14.
Team Form: BGSU enters the 2019 season as winners of six of its last seven in 2018, with the lone loss coming against Penn State in the NCAA Tournament.
Follow along with the Cats on Twitter,Facebook, Instagram and on the web at UKathletics.com.
