Kentucky Breezes Past Detroit Mercy, 2-0
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky (4-0-0) continued its perfect start to the 2025 women’s soccer season on Sunday, defeating Detroit Mercy (1-3-0) by a score of 2-0 to complete its second week of play. Goals from Catherine Rapp and Anna Sikorski, as well as the first career complete game shutout in net for Khadijah Cissé, propelled the Wildcats to the win.
The Wildcats have now scored multiple goals in each of their four matches to this point, outscoring their opponents 15-1. The 15 goals through four matches ties the 2005 squad for the most in program history.
The Cats’ tendency for the fast start showed once again on Sunday, as Rapp opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Kentucky has scored in the opening ten minutes in three of its four matches thus far, with the outlier coming in the 16th minute. Rapp was able to tap in the ball on the goal line thanks to an assist from Skye Leach—her first as a Wildcat and the fifth of her career. Leach was able to take the ball from her defensive half and dribble it to the right wing—evading a defender on the sideline in the process—allowing her to deliver a perfect ball in the box to a charging Rapp. The goal was the second of the season for Rapp, who leads the Cats in career goals scored with 10.
Despite chances for more damage—including a shot on post by Sikorski and multiple saves induced by the leg of Alexis Tylenda—the Cats entered the locker room with a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Out of the break, it did not take long for Tanner Strickland to make her influence on the match known. For the fourth time in as many matches, Strickland was able to cut wide and dribble along the baseline, evade her defender, draw a foul in the box, and earn a penalty kick. Sikorski stepped to the spot for the Cats and converted the attempt in the 53rd minute, scoring with her left foot towards the left post. The goal was the third of the season for the sophomore, who is now 2-for-2 on penalties this season.
Kentucky had multiple chances to extend its lead, but saves from Detroit Mercy on attempts from Maddie Eastman and Mimi Dominguez kept the match at 2-0, a mark that would last until the final whistle.
With the victory, Kentucky is now unbeaten in its last 18 home matches and last 21 regular season non-conference contests.
The Wildcats are in the midst of a season-opening nine-match homestand, continuing play at the Bell on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne. The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+. Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public.
For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook, nstagram, X and at UKathletics.com.
