No. 18 Kentucky Drops 2-0 Decision to Mississippi State

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A record-setting, 13-match unbeaten streak to start the 2023 season came to a close on Sunday as No. 18 Kentucky (8-1-5, 2-1-4 SEC) was tripped up by Mississippi State (9-3-3, 4-2-1 SEC), 2-0, at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.

The loss marks the first of the season for the Wildcats, who entered the match as one of just eight teams in Division I without a defeat this year. UK’s six-match unbeaten streak to start SEC play was its longest since 2003.

Mississippi State scored two second-half goals to earn the victory, marking the first time Kentucky has surrendered multiple goals in a match this season.

The contest was scoreless after the first 45 minutes, before the visitors jumped in front on a UK own-goal in the 49th minute. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the 79th minute as sophomore Maggie Wadsworth capitalized on a Wildcats’ defensive miscue to register her third goal of the season.

UK goalkeeper Marz Josephson made several impressive stops in net, most notably a leaping save to her left on a shot from the Bulldogs’ Hannah Johnson in the 27th minute. The Wildcats’ best chance of the day came in the 65th minute off a set piece from Grace Phillpotts. The senior defender lifted a ball into the box from just across the midfield line, which was initially headed in the air by a Mississippi State defender. The ball fell to Kentucky’s Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir who tested the keeper with a right-footed shot which was parried by the Bulldog netminder.

Mississippi State outshot the Wildcats, 8-6, on the afternoon and managed a 4-3 edge in shots on frame. Kentucky earned five corner kicks to three for the Bulldogs.

UK will look to bounce back when the Cats visit Georgia this Thursday. The match will begin at 6 p.m. from the Turner Soccer Complex.

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.