Freshmen Shine in Season-Opening Win Against Central Michigan

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (1-0-0) started 2024 off on the right foot defeating Central Michigan (0-1-0) on Thursday night 2-0 at the Bell. It marks the third straight season Head Coach Troy Fabiano has earned a season-opening win since taking the job in 2022.

Freshmen Sydni Fink and Alexis Tylenda were two of four new additions this year that shined in the match scoring the goals in the victory over the Chippewas in their collegiate debuts. In addition to that, freshman Anna Sikorski and Ashley Mekitarian recorded assists alongside senior Grace Phillpotts. Graduate student goalkeeper Marz Josephson recorded her first clean sheet of the season.

Kentucky chipped away at the Chippewas for 40 minutes, launching attack after attack before finally finding the breakthrough in a scramble on the opponent’s goal line a minute later. A ball whipped in from the right-hand side from Maddie Eastman found Sikorski in the middle of the box who forced a save from CMU’s Allison LaPoint, parrying it to the far post where the ball sat lying for free and eager Fink.

The Wildcats doubled their advantage in the second half with Tylenda finishing off a great cross over the top from Phillpotts who stood 25 yards from goal on the near side.

Kentucky moves to 1-0-0 and welcomes in-state foe Morehead State to the Bell Soccer Complex on Sunday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.

For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook, Instagram, X and at UKathletics.com.