Wildcats Eliminated from NCAA Tournament in 2-1 Extra Time Loss to Saint Louis
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Kentucky Wildcats (10-4-5, 7-1-1 SBC) were eliminated from the 2025 NCAA Tournament in heartbreaking fashion in a 2-1, extra time loss to the Saint Louis Billikens (11-2-7, 5-0-3 A-10) on Thursday night.
The Wildcats will conclude the season with an overall record of 10-3-5, the program’s first 10-win season since 2022, and a regular season Sun Belt title.
The Wildcats jumped in front of the Billikens right from the start, with Agustin Lopez scoring his fourth goal of the season in the fifth minute, coming off a failed clearance from the Saint Louis defense, giving Kentucky an early 1-0 lead.
Goalkeeper Sebastian Conlon recorded three crucial saves in the first half, first with a double save in the 11th minute coming off a pair of point-blank opportunities from Saint Louis, and again with a diving save in the 41st minute from a shot by Billikens forward Karim Abdoul-Pare.
Later in the half, the Wildcats nearly doubled their advantage with a goal in the 32nd minute from Max Miller, assisted by Lopez from a rebounded shot that was saved by Saint Louis goalkeeper Jermei Abonnel. After a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside.
Kentucky would hold on to the one-goal lead heading into the halftime break, despite training in the shot department 5-3 in the opening 45 minutes.
The Wildcats would continue to maintain their 1-0 advantage for the majority of the second half but suffered a red card ejection from midfielder Kevin Larsson with just over seven minutes remaining in the match, forcing the Wildcats to play with 10-men.
In the 86th minute, the Billikens would find their equalizer in the form of a shot from distance by Jack DiMaria, leveling the scoreline at 1-1 with less than five minutes to play. The match would then move into extra time as the two sides remained level after 90 minutes.
In the second period of extra time, Saint Louis would go on to win and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after DiMaria scored his second goal of the night, ending the Wildcats’ season.
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