Undefeated Women’s Soccer Upsets No. 9 UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (7-0-0) upset No. 9 UCLA (5-2-1) 2-0 Sunday afternoon at the Bell Soccer Complex in a season-defining win for the program. The Wildcats now match their best start to a campaign for the first time in 13 years, since 2011. Goals from Makala Woods and Catherine DeRosa saw the Wildcats take down the West Coast soccer powerhouse.
A depleted yet tough Bruins squad stepped foot into Lexington this afternoon hoping to get a result before making the 2,162-mile journey back to Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats had other plans for today. Despite facing a defense that had only conceded once heading into this game, Kentucky got plenty of looks at goal in the opening 15 minutes of play. Both Alexis Tylenda and Anna Sikorski had efforts that went wide of the net, but the Wildcats felt good about their offensive play.
Everything changed a minute later when Maddie Kemp lofted a ball into the box for Makala Woods to run onto. UCLA’s goalkeeper Ryan Campbell came charging out of her net in an effort to catch the pass and collided with Woods earning Kentucky their third penalty kick of the season. Woods, who scored a penalty in the 2-0 win over Morehead State earlier this season, placed the attempt into the left side of the net with ease for the 1-0 lead. The Cats carried that lead into the half where they also led the Bruins in shots 8-4.
With a fragile 1-0 lead in place, Kentucky knew the job was not complete against such a formidable opponent. The Cats chipped away looking for their second goal and were not having much luck for the opening 15 minutes of the second half until the 62nd minute when Mia Bookhard was brought down just outside the box on the far side.
Catherine DeRosa, affectionately called “Bootsie” by her teammates, has only scored four goals in her career, but she added another this afternoon when she stepped up to take the free kick and hit a beautifully placed shot right over the wall, dipping down fast enough to beat Campbell for the 2-0 lead. It marked Cathrine’s first goal for the Wildcats since transferring from Maryland.
From that moment on, the name of the game was defense for the Wildcats. UCLA ramped up the pressure in search of a comeback, but it was halted by a sturdy Kentucky defensive core who have only given up two goals through seven games so far this season.
The victory marks a series of different statistics for the Wildcats. Not only is it the first time they’ve won seven straight games since 2011 to start a season, but it also marks their sixth straight home victory. In addition to that, the Wildcats earned their first victory over the Bruins after three matches played in the all-time series. It also marked the highest number of goals conceded by UCLA so far this season.
The Wildcats return to the Bell Soccer Complex on Friday, September 13th for senior night when they host Kent State. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
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.
