Live Stream (SEC Network+ / ESPN3) | Live Stats
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the first time since 2009, WKU is set to take on in-state rival Kentucky in a regular season match on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT) in Lexington; the Lady Toppers will be seeking their first win in the all-time series against the Wildcats in the matchup.
In the season opener on Thursday evening, WKU (1-0) unleashed an offensive barrage against Belmont at the WKU Soccer Complex, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes and continuing to pressure from there, eventually piecing together a 5-0 shutout victory over the Bruins. Freshmen Ansley Cate (two goals) and Katie Erwin scored in their first regular season match on The Hill, while Ambere Barnett and Chelsea Moore added the final two strikes in the second half.
Aleksandra Kozovic, Olivia Stanley, Sydney Ernst and Avery Jacobsen also made their way onto the scoresheet with an assist apiece, while Barnett dished out two helpers against Belmont.
Anne-Marie Ulliac turned in a strong performance in goal after missing all but one match last season due to injury, playing the first 75 minutes on Thursday while making three saves to preserve the shutout. WKU's 5-0 margin was its largest shutout in a season-opening match in program history, and the five goals were its most scored in a season opener since the 2016 campaign, when the Lady Toppers netted seven at UT Martin.
Cate was not the only true freshman to draw a start in WKU's opener, as Ernst joined her in the starting lineup. In addition, six more freshmen saw playing time off the bench, including Erwin (52 minutes), Logan Barber (30 minutes) and Lucy Lyon (28 minutes). Afton Schraml also saw the first action of her career between the pipes, relieving Ulliac over the final 15 minutes to close out the shutout.
In Sunday's match, WKU will be seeking its first-ever win over Kentucky and its first win against an SEC foe since knocking off Ole Miss 2-1 in overtime on Aug. 22, 2008. Last season, the Lady Toppers battled a pair of SEC opponents as they traveled to take on the Rebels and Vanderbilt. WKU dropped a 4-0 decision at Ole Miss before falling 2-0 to the Commodores in 2018.
Kentucky (0-0-1) earned a 3-3 draw against Bowling Green in its season opener on Thursday evening, needing an 84th minute equalizer to send the match against the Falcons into overtime. Jordyn Rhodes scored a pair of goals for the Wildcats, including the match-saving equalizer, and Hikari Yamada added the third on a penalty kick in the 56th minute. Miranda Jimenez and Gretchen Mills each added an assist apiece on Rhodes' goals.
In goal, Steph Stull played the full 110 minutes for Kentucky, coming away with four saves while giving up three goals to earn the draw.
Sunday will mark the fifth all-time regular season meeting between the Lady Toppers and Wildcats, with Kentucky holding a 2-0-2 edge in the series. In the most recent aforementioned meeting in 2009, the two sides battled to a scoreless draw in Lexington after 110 minutes.
Following Sunday's bout, WKU will remain on the road next Friday evening at 7 p.m. as the Lady Toppers travel to Birmingham, Ala., to battle Samford. WKU trails 2-1 in the all-time series and has not defeated Samford since a 1-0 victory during the program's inaugural season in 2001. In the most recent match between the two, Samford picked up a 1-0 win in Bowling Green on Sept. 10, 2017.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
