Women’s Soccer Moves to 5-0 For First Time Since 2012 Season
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kentucky women’s soccer (5-0-0) stayed hot to start the season defeating Illinois (3-1-1) 2-1 in their first road game of the year. The victory marks the first time the Wildcats have started the season 5-0-0 since 2012 and the fourth time in program history.
The Wildcats outshot the Fighting Illini 10-8 with five shots on goal to their three. Kentucky forced four saves out of the home side while the corner battle remained even at four apiece. Both sides had 15 fouls throughout the match with Kentucky seeing two cautions.
After 20 minutes of knocking on the door, the Wildcats found the back of the net through Illinois transfer Makala Woods, making it 1-0 against her former team. The goal came after Kentucky won the ball in the midfield with Mallory Glass passing forward to Maddie Kemp in space a little past the midfield circle on the near side. Kemp took a touch, turned, and placed her pass between the Illinois defenders finding a running Woods who shrugged off her former teammate, placing her shot into the far corner. It marks Glass’ and Kemp’s first assists of the season and Woods’ third goal of the year.
The Wildcats entered the half on top at 1-0 and doubled the advantage after seven minutes with Grace Hoytink dribbling past her defender on the wing and into the box. Hoytink put a cross into the near post that connected with an Illinois center-back and fell into the net for a 2-0 Wildcat lead.
The Fighting Illini got a goal back seven minutes later with a good strike that beat Marz Josephson hitting the far post and landing in the goal. It was all they would get though as the Wildcats locked it down defensively in the final 15 minutes earning their fifth-straight victory to start 2024.
Kentucky returns to the Bell Soccer Complex on Thursday, September 5th as they welcome in-state foe Murray State (2-2-1) with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Season tickets for all Kentucky soccer men’s and women’s home games can be purchased here, while single-game tickets are available here.
For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook, Instagram, X and at UKathletics.com.
