Women’s Soccer Earns First SEC Win of the Season at Alabama

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s soccer (9-1-3, 1-1-3) earned their first Southeastern Conference win of the season defeating Alabama (7-3-4, 0-1-4) 2-0 in Tuscaloosa Friday evening. A goal from Maddie Kemp and an own goal saw the Wildcats return to Lexington with three points in a much needed win.

Alabama outshot the Wildcats 13-8 while Kentucky had four shots on goal to the Crimson Tide’s three. Both sides made three saves with the hosts leading on corners 6-2.

The Wildcats dominated the first half maintaining possession in the midfield through the opening 20 minutes. Kentucky was knocking on the door generating chance after chance and the opening goal finally came via Maddie Kemp in the 30th minute. Kemp received the ball from Grace Phillpotts in the midfield and unleashed a vigorous shot from 25 yards out, beating the goalkeeper Coralie Lallier and brushing the underside of the crossbar for the opening goal. It marks Kemp’s fourth goal of the season and first since the 3-1 win over Kent State on September 13th. Phillpotts picks up her third assist of the season.

The Wildcats extended the lead to 2-0 courtesy of an Alabama own goal in the 39th minute. Phillpotts placed a ball into the box that skipped off the gloves of Lallier who came off her line and met the ball at the penalty spot. The ball fell backward towards the goal line and thanks to pressure from Sophia Mattice, the Crimson Tide failed to clear the ball cleanly, putting it into their net.

Kentucky returns to the Bell Soccer Complex on Thursday, October 10th to face LSU with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff for Fan Appreciation night. 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.