Wildcats Drop Heartbreaker to No. 24 Vanderbilt, 2-1
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky (9-4-1, 3-2-1 SEC) fell to No. 24 Vanderbilt (9-3-1, 3-2-1 SEC) by a score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. Forward Alexis Tylenda scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season to tie the match at one in the 74th minute but it was not enough to secure points in the conference table.
The match started off slow, with neither team earning a shot until the 21st minute of play. Vanderbilt had the only shot on goal of the opening frame, with Sydney Watts forcing Wildcat goalkeeper Khadijah Cissé to make a kick save in transition during the final minute of the period.
Out of the break, Cissé continued to be a wall for the Cats, saving a pair of shots from Watts and Olivia Stafford to keep the match even. The freshman from Montreal closed the afternoon with a career-high five saves. In the 59th minute, the Wildcats saw their first real chance of the match, as a Gabi Poretto shot from distance was saved over the crossbar by Vanderbilt keeper Sara Wojdelko.
It was Watts who proved the difference in the match, scoring both goals for her team and attempting seven of Vanderbilt’s nine shots—including six of seven shots on goal. Watts opened the scoring in the 66th minute with a rebound goal. A cross from Victoria Pugh found the head of Watts within feet of the goal mouth, but a remarkable Cissé save turned away the opening offering. However, Watts found the ball on the rebound and tapped it in for the goal.
Kentucky was quick to respond though, with Tylenda’s equalizer coming less than ten minutes later. Abigail Stager forced a turnover in the 18-yard box and forcedWojdelko into a diving save that fell at the feet of Tylenda, allowing the Pittsburgh native to blast it into net and tie the match.
However, a minute later, the Commodores would catch the Wildcats in transition and retake the lead. Stafford found Watts on the Vanderbilt defensive half in front of the Kentucky backline and played a ball over the top that left the strike one-on-one with Cissé, who was unable to come up with the diving save.
The Wildcats attempted to respond, with Anna Sikorski providing the best opportunity at a second equalizer, though it was ultimately extinguished by a Wojdelko save.
Kentucky will return to the pitch on Friday, traveling to Oxford for a Friday night showdown at Ole Miss. Kickoff from the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET on October 10.
Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public.
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