Wildcats Host Illinois in Battle of Unbeaten Squads
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time this season, Kentucky (5-0-0) will square off against a power conference foe, welcoming Big Ten side Illinois (4-0-0) to The Bell in a battle of undefeated teams. The match will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET and admission is free to the public. The match will also be streamed live on SEC Network +.
The Wildcats enter Sunday’s contest after dominating Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, claiming victory by a score of 6-0. Catherine Rapp dominated scoring twice and assisting on two other goals for a career-best six-point showing. Gabi Poretto and Kaylin Mallon each scored their first collegiate goals in the win, with Tanner Strickland and Anna Sikorski also adding to the Wildcat tally.
Rapp, Sikorski, and Tylenda have combined to be a dominant offensive force for Kentucky, with all three players currently sitting at double-digit points. Tylenda leads the team with five goals scored, with Sikorski and Rapp close behind with four. All three players rank in the SEC’s top ten in both goals and assists.
The Wildcat offense has produced at a top clip though the early part of the season, leading the SEC in shots, goals, and corner kicks. Nationally, Kentucky ranks second in corner kicks per game, third in goal differential, fourth in shots per game, sixth in total points, and eighth in total assists.
The Cats will be looking to sustain a pair of impressive streaks, with the team currently unbeaten in its last 19 home matches and undefeated in its last 24 regular season non-conference matches.
Illinois enters Sunday’s contest having won all four of its contests, defeating UIC, Bowling Green, Boston College, and DePaul. In contrast to the Wildcats’ season-opening nine-match homestand, Sunday’s match will be the fourth road contest in five matches for the Illini.
The two squads have met in each of the last two seasons, with Kentucky winning 1-0 at home in 2023 and 2-1 in Champaign in 2024. Overall, Kentucky leads the head-to-head series by a mark of 3-0-0.
The Wildcats will close the non-conference portion of the schedule next weekend, hosting Mercyhurst at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 4 and welcoming Ohio State at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 7. Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public.
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