Women’s Soccer Readies for Senior Day vs. Illinois
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (3-0-1, 0-0-0 SEC) faces Illinois (3-0-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten) on Senior Day at the Bell Soccer Complex, Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase, with the action also streaming live on SECN+.
The Wildcats will honor 10 seniors prior to the start of the match with an on-field ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. Gates to the complex will open at 11:30 a.m. Seniors to be recognized include: Mia Bookhard, Sophia Caruso, Maria Castaldo, Maya Lacognato, Claudia Najera, Jordyn Rhodes, Payton Robertson, Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir, Hadley Williams and Anna Young.
UK is coming off its highest scoring outing of the season as the Cats netted four goals in a victory over UT Martin last Thursday. Jordyn Rhodes has scored in four-straight matches to open the 2023 season, the longest consecutive matches scored streak of her UK career. Rhodes had totaled five goals on the year, putting the forward at 41 for her Kentucky career. She trails only Kim LaBelle (44), on the program’s all-time goal list.
Taya Hjorth, Mia Bookhard and Katelyn Fishnick all registered their first goals at Kentucky in the win over the Skyhawks. For Hjorth, the goal was the first of her collegiate career.
Rhodes and senior transfer Grace Phillpotts are among the SEC leaders early in the season. Rhodes leads the league in goals/game (1.25) and points/game (2.50), while being tied for first in total goals (five) and total points (10). Phillpotts, meanwhile, paces the conference in assists per game (0.75), while sharing the lead for total assists (three).
Illinois has enjoyed a strong start to the season, picking up wins over Loyola (Chicago), Xavier and Louisville. Sophomore Lia Howard leads the Illini with two goals and five points. Three Illini were selected to the Big Ten Preseason Watchlist with Kennedy Berschel, Makala Woods and Ella Karolak receiving the nod.
Kentucky is 1-0-0 against Illinois all-time, the lone matchup taking place in 2002, a 1-0 win for UK. The Cats are searching for their third straight win over a Power Five non-conference opponent after defeating both Purdue and Iowa State in 2022.
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.
