Newly Ranked Wildcats Head to Knoxville on Thursday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 18 Kentucky women’s soccer (7-0-4, 1-0-3 SEC) plays its first match as a ranked team since 2015 when the Wildcats visit Tennessee (6-2-3, 1-1-2 SEC) this Thursday at the Regal Soccer Stadium. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and can be streamed live on SECN+.
The Wildcats are coming off an upset win over No. 9 Alabama last Friday, the program’s first SEC victory since 2021, their first over a ranked team since 2016 and first against a top-10 side since the 2014 season.
The night was highlighted by a record setting performance from Jordyn Rhodes who scored two goals to reach 45 total tallies for her collegiate career, becoming the new Kentucky record holder. Rhodes is tied for the SEC lead in goals with nine thus far this season, including two multigoal matches. The fifth year was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this year this past Monday.
Kentucky’s upset victory over the Crimson Tide also marked the first win in conference action for second year head coach Troy Fabiano and led to the Wildcats appearing in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 this week. UK is unbeaten through its first 11 matches for just the second time in program history, the first coming back in 2005. Kentucky has never started a season with 12-straight results. The Cats are the last unbeaten team standing in the SEC and one of just nine sides without a loss in Division I.
Tennessee has drawn its last two matches entering Thursday, most recently erasing a three-goal deficit with 18 minutes remaining to take a point at Mississippi State. Sophomore Kameron Simmonds leads the team with six goals this year, while Ally Brown has a team-high four assists. Ally Zazzara (six starts) and Abby Reisz (five starts) have split time in net for the Vols.
Kentucky trails the all-time series vs. Tennessee 12-17-3, its last win against the Volunteers coming during the 2014 SEC Tournament. The Wildcats dropped a 4-1 contest to UT last season in Lexington with the two rivals last met.
For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKWomensSoccer, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
