Women’s Soccer Begins Homestand vs. Valparaiso
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (2-0-0, 0-0-0 SEC) looks to remain unbeaten when the Wildcats begin a four-match homestand by taking on Valparaiso (2-1-0, 0-0-0 MVC) this Sunday at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. The match is set for a 1 p.m. first touch and can be seen live on SECN+. Tickets can be purchased here.
Sunday will serve as Youth Day at the Bell, with inflatables on site for kids in attendance.
Jordyn Rhodes has carried the offensive load for Kentucky thus far in 2023, registering all three of the team’s goals through the first two matches. Rhodes’ efforts have helped the Cats to a pair of one-goal triumphs over EKU and Murray St. and brought the fifth year to 39 goals for her UK career, second in program history behind Kim LaBelle (44).
In the Wildcats’ latest win over Murray State, Rhodes recorded the eighth multi-goal game of her collegiate career, finding the back of the net twice in the second half in what was a 2-1 victory for Kentucky. Senior Grace Phillpotts collected her second assist in as many games, while grad-transfer Maya Lacognato notched her first point as a Wildcat, assisting on Rhodes’ game-winning goal.
Valparaiso began the year with wins over Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois but suffered a 4-1 setback its last time out against Purdue. The Beacons are the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions and return nine of 11 starters from a year ago. Among those to look out for are the 2022 MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, Nikki Coryell, as well as 2022 First Team All-MVC honorees Nicole Norfolk and Lindsey DuSatko. Norfolk, a fifth-year center back, leads Valparaiso with two goals this season, while midfielder Allie Anderson also has four points to her name on a goal and two assists.
Kentucky has won 10 consecutive non-conference home matches entering Sunday, a streak which dates back to the 2021 season. Second-year head coach Troy Fabiano is 9-1-0 in matches outside the SEC.
Sunday’s match will be the first of four-straight home contests for UK. The Cats are 2-0-0 against Valparaiso all-time but have not met the Beacons since 1994.
For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKWomensSoccer, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
