Richardson’s Golden Goal Seals a 3-2 Kentucky Victory Over Murray State
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A golden goal from Hannah Richardson just moments into the first overtime period was enough to lift the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team past Murray State, 3-2, on Sunday at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 5-1-2 on the year while the Racers drop to 4-3.
Kentucky got off to a fast start offensively as Jordyn Rhodes fired back-to-back shots in the fourth and fifth minutes, with both attempts being denied by the Racers’ goalkeeper. Hannah Richardson also had a good look early on, but her shot was again stopped by Jenna Villacres.
Kentucky was awarded a penalty kick in the 26th minute after Murray State committed a foul inside the box. Rhodes converted the attempt for her eighth goal of the season, sending a shot into the upper right corner of the net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Racers found the equalizer in the 39th minute when a strike from Izzy Heckman slipped past Laura Nielsen’s gloves. Heading into the break with one goal each, UK held an 11-5 advantage in shots while both teams had four corner kicks.
Searching for an opportunity to regain their lead, the Wildcats fired off five shots in the opening 10 minutes of the second frame but were unable to break through the Racers’ defense. Murray State then took the lead in the 57th minute after a goal from Chloe Barnthouse.
Wasting no time on the attack, the Wildcats responded in the 66th minute to even the score at two apiece. A short pass from Rhodes connected with Ulfa Ulfarsdottir on the right side, who then fired a shot into the upper left corner from 25 yards out.
Two key saves from Nielsen prevented Murray State from getting on the board again in the game’s final minutes, but with neither team able to get the chance they needed, the Wildcats and Racers were forced into overtime.
Kentucky earned the golden goal 37 seconds into the first overtime period. A loose header off a UK corner was punched away by Villacres towards Rhodes, whose attempt was blocked by a Murray State defender. Receiving the rebound right in front of the goal line, Richardson tapped it in to give the Wildcats a 3-2 victory.
UK out-shot Murray State 21-13 at the conclusion of the match while the Racers held a slight 9-7 advantage in corners. Rhodes had a game-high six shots, joining both Gretchen Mills and Marie Olesen with a pair of shots on target. Nielsen recorded three saves between the posts with Villacres making six stops for the Racers.
The Wildcats continue their three-game home stretch on Friday, Sept. 17 when they host Texas A&M for the conference opener at 7 p.m. ET at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
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.
