Set Pieces Lead Kentucky to 3-0 Victory Over Mercyhurst
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thanks to three set piece goals and a flawless defensive performance, Kentucky (6-1-0) recovered from its first defeat of the season to move past Mercyhurst (0-5-1), 3-0. Skye Leach, Alexis Tylenda, and Anna Sikorski each scored a goal for the Cats, while Kentucky did not allow the Lakers to even attempt a shot.
Kentucky got back to its winning ways with another dominant performance, controlling 72 percent of possession, earning 18 corners, and outshooting Mercyhurst 17-0. The match is the fifth shutout of the season for the Cats and the second time this season that Kentucky has held its opponent shotless.
Despite early chances, it took Kentucky 38 minutes to open the scoring tonight—the latest opening goal of the season for the Wildcats. An Elkie Bowyer corner kick deflected off a Laker defender, allowing Leach to head the ball home for her second goal of the season. Kentucky would take the 1-0 lead into the locker room for the halftime intermission.
Out of the break, it did not take long for Kentucky to double its lead. A Sikorski free kick from the end line was served into the box in the 49th minute, where Tylenda was able to flick the ball with the back of her head into the back of the net. On the play, Tylenda scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season with Sikorski notching her third assist of the year in the process.
In the 60th minute, the Cats would score their final goal of the night. Sikorski was able to bend a corner kick with her left foot on frame, deflecting off the Laker goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal was the second time this season that Sikorski has scored directly from a corner kick and her fifth total goal of the year.
Megan Holland earned the win in goal, starting her first career match at Kentucky. Holland split time in net with Khadijah Cissé, the sixth time in seven matches where the two have both played as the Kentucky keeper.
The Wildcats will close the non-conference portion of the schedule on Sunday, hosting No. 20 Ohio State at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 7. The match will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public.
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