(h/t UK Athletics)
2012 Review:
The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team made vital strides last season in taking their program to the next level. The team recorded its first-ever NCAA tournament win in eight tries and obtained an impressive winning record (14-8-1). UK head coach Jon Lipsitz guided the team to wins over ranked opponents #13 Florida and in-state rival #12 Louisville, and a critical draw against #6/8 Texas A&M. Junior Arin Gilliland was named to the All-SEC First Team and Third Team All-America, while Kelli Hubly and Courtney Raetzman were named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2012.
2013 Outlook:
UK women’s soccer returns nine starters from a year ago, seven of whom are underclassmen. Coach Jon Lipsitz also signed 12 freshman to join the team for the 2013-14 campaign. The team is fairly young, but experienced and very talented. UK returns their entire front line from a year ago with Arin Gilliland, Kelli Hubly, and Caitlan Landis. The scoring trio combined for 17 goals and 16 assists during the 2012 season. Gilliland has also been named to the MAC Herrmann Watch List for the upcoming season. The award is annually given to the best male and female NCAA collegiate soccer player and is noted as the most prestigious individual award in the sport. Behind senior captains Kayla King and Ashley VanLandingham, and junior captain Arin Gilliland, the team looks to progress on where they left off a season ago in the NCAA Tournament.
(h/t UK Athletics)
2013 Season So Far:
The UK women’s soccer team dropped their away opener 3-1 against #10/15 Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. The team scored the first goal of the match but allowed the Demon Deacons to score two before the half and added a late goal in the 70
th minute off a diving header. They returned back to Lexington to face Utah, but failed to prevail despite a solid performance and outshooting the Utes 13-9. The two teams drew 0-0 in two overtimes. UK then easily handled Eastern Kentucky on Friday in a 7-0 rout at home. Freshman forward Zoe Swift scored the team’s first hat trick since 2006 and Arin Gilliland had three assists to help lift UK to victory. The team then headed to the University of Toledo for their Sunday match in which they proved to be victorious in a 2-1 defeat of the Rockets.
The Rest of the Way:
The UK women’s soccer team opens a three-game homestand against rival Louisville on Friday at 7:30pm at the UK Soccer Complex. SEC play opens up away against Auburn on 9/20 and the opening round of the SEC Tournament begins 11/4 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The schedule looks slightly easier from a season ago for a team that has all the pieces to be even better than last year’s team. The UK women hope to improve upon their most successful season in the program’s 21-year history and get back to the NCAA Tournament in the 2013-14 season.
(h/t UK Athletics)
Fifth-year head coach Jon Lipsitz said, "
The state of the program from when we took over five years ago is unrecognizable. It is a tribute to the staff and players of the past five years. We are in a position now where we are very proud of our culture, we are very proud of our success, but we are still very hungry for more."
There will be weekly updates on the UK women’s soccer team here on KSR throughout the season, so follow along and stay updated. Don’t forget to go out and support your Lady Cats versus little sister on Friday at 7:30 at the UK Soccer Complex and during the rest of the season. This team has the potential to be the best yet so expect them to be ready, come NCAA tourney time in November.
@kaansoloKSR
(h/t UK Athletics)
2012 Review:
The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team made vital strides last season in taking their program to the next level. The team recorded its first-ever NCAA tournament win in eight tries and obtained an impressive winning record (14-8-1). UK head coach Jon Lipsitz guided the team to wins over ranked opponents #13 Florida and in-state rival #12 Louisville, and a critical draw against #6/8 Texas A&M. Junior Arin Gilliland was named to the All-SEC First Team and Third Team All-America, while Kelli Hubly and Courtney Raetzman were named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2012.
2013 Outlook:
UK women’s soccer returns nine starters from a year ago, seven of whom are underclassmen. Coach Jon Lipsitz also signed 12 freshman to join the team for the 2013-14 campaign. The team is fairly young, but experienced and very talented. UK returns their entire front line from a year ago with Arin Gilliland, Kelli Hubly, and Caitlan Landis. The scoring trio combined for 17 goals and 16 assists during the 2012 season. Gilliland has also been named to the MAC Herrmann Watch List for the upcoming season. The award is annually given to the best male and female NCAA collegiate soccer player and is noted as the most prestigious individual award in the sport. Behind senior captains Kayla King and Ashley VanLandingham, and junior captain Arin Gilliland, the team looks to progress on where they left off a season ago in the NCAA Tournament.
(h/t UK Athletics)
2013 Season So Far:
The UK women’s soccer team dropped their away opener 3-1 against #10/15 Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. The team scored the first goal of the match but allowed the Demon Deacons to score two before the half and added a late goal in the 70th minute off a diving header. They returned back to Lexington to face Utah, but failed to prevail despite a solid performance and outshooting the Utes 13-9. The two teams drew 0-0 in two overtimes. UK then easily handled Eastern Kentucky on Friday in a 7-0 rout at home. Freshman forward Zoe Swift scored the team’s first hat trick since 2006 and Arin Gilliland had three assists to help lift UK to victory. The team then headed to the University of Toledo for their Sunday match in which they proved to be victorious in a 2-1 defeat of the Rockets.
The Rest of the Way:
The UK women’s soccer team opens a three-game homestand against rival Louisville on Friday at 7:30pm at the UK Soccer Complex. SEC play opens up away against Auburn on 9/20 and the opening round of the SEC Tournament begins 11/4 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The schedule looks slightly easier from a season ago for a team that has all the pieces to be even better than last year’s team. The UK women hope to improve upon their most successful season in the program’s 21-year history and get back to the NCAA Tournament in the 2013-14 season.
(h/t UK Athletics)
Fifth-year head coach Jon Lipsitz said, "The state of the program from when we took over five years ago is unrecognizable. It is a tribute to the staff and players of the past five years. We are in a position now where we are very proud of our culture, we are very proud of our success, but we are still very hungry for more."
There will be weekly updates on the UK women’s soccer team here on KSR throughout the season, so follow along and stay updated. Don’t forget to go out and support your Lady Cats versus little sister on Friday at 7:30 at the UK Soccer Complex and during the rest of the season. This team has the potential to be the best yet so expect them to be ready, come NCAA tourney time in November.
@kaansoloKSR
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