Looking ahead to UK women’s soccer SEC showdown in Gainesville
Sophomore goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie catches the ball in midair during the game against Missouri on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Lexington, Ky. UK was defeated 2 to 1. Photo by Kaitlyn Gumm| Staff
October 19, 2017
UK women’s soccer is looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss on Senior Day this past Sunday. The Cats will travel to Florida for an SEC showdown with the Gators on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in Gainsville, Florida, but was relocated to Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Cats are desperately searching for a win after losing to Loyola-Chicago 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. Since that match was a non-conference match up, it did not affect UK’s current SEC standings.
UK is still sitting in the No. 9 spot but, a win over the Florida Gators, holding the No. 4 spot, would secure their invitation to Orange Beach.
The Florida Gators have a 5-2 conference record and are 11-4 overall. They are 6-1 at home with their only home loss coming from Florida State on Oct. 12.
The Gators are also looking to bounce back after a tough loss, as Auburn took down Florida 2-0 in Alabama on Sunday afternoon. It is needless to say that both UK and the Gators will be out for blood and an SEC win on Thursday night.
The Cats will look to have goalkeeper and key player, Evangeline Soucie, back in the starting lineup for this match against the Gators. Soucie was unavailable to play on Sunday because of a concussion that she endured during the Missouri game last Thursday.
Soucie, along with the rest of UK’s defense, will be crucial during this game to stop Florida’s leading scorers, freshman Deanne Rose and senior Gabby Seiler. Rose has scored eight goals thus far this season and Seiler is not far behind her with six scored goals this season.
UK will more than likely look their two freshman midfielders, Eva Mitchell and Miranda Jimenez to be the two help produce offense and to score goals. Mitchell and Jimenez are tied for the team’s leading scorer. Each of them have made three goals on the season.
Freshman midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki and sophomore forward Foster Ignoffo were the only two Wildcats to score in the loss to Loyola-Chicago on Sunday, and both will be big factors in Thursday’s match.