Wildcats Prove Dominant in 6-0 Shutout at Eastern Kentucky
RICHMOND, Ky. – Powered by four goals in the second half from an explosive Wildcat offense, the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team posted a 6-0 shutout over Eastern Kentucky on Thursday at the EKU Soccer Complex in Richmond.
With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 4-1-2 on the year while the Colonels fall to 3-3.
UK’s six goals in a single game are the most under head coach Ian Carry, surpassing the previous record of five set against both Louisiana on Aug. 26, 2021, and Florida on Nov. 13, 2020. It is also the most goals recorded in a given contest since the seven the Wildcats scored versus Eastern Kentucky back in 2013.
The win also marked Kentucky’s first victory on the road since besting EKU, 2-0, on Sept. 12, 2019.
Kentucky dominated the possession right from the start with several Wildcats having a few solid looks in the game’s opening minutes. After benefiting from an own goal, UK jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute and continued to place pressure on the Colonels’ defense.
The Wildcats quickly doubled their lead three minutes later. After winning a one-versus-one situation at center field, Sara Makoben-Blessing drove through EKU’s defense to send a pass to Marissa Bosco whose strike from the top of the 18-yard box landed in the upper right corner.
After 45 minutes of action, Kentucky had fired off 12 shots to EKU’s seven and held a 7-1 advantage on corners.
The Wildcats wasted no time finding the back of the net coming out of the break, extending their lead by three in the 46th minute after a cross from Bosco inside the box connected with Rhodes who tapped it in. Rhodes quickly struck again in the 53rd minute to make the score 4-0, sending a shot to the upper right corner after a short pass from Hannah Richardson.
UK’s fifth goal came in the 65th minute after a header attempt from Rhodes was stopped by EKU’s goalkeeper. Bosco, who was there for the rebound on the left side, sent a shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Showing no signs of stopping until the final whistle, Kentucky netted their sixth goal of the day in the 87th minute. With an assist from Valdis Bjorg Sigurbjornsdottir, Miranda Jimenez spun around a pair of EKU defenders and snuck one in past the Colonels’ goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.
At the conclusion of the match, the Wildcats out-shot the Colonels 20-11 and had 11 corner kicks to their one. Rhodes posted a team-high three shots on goal while Laura Nielsen made three saves between the posts.
The Wildcats return to the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex for a three-game home stretch on Sunday, Sept. 12 for a 4 p.m. match against Murray State.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s soccer program, follow @UKWomensSoccer on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
