By Boyd Hayes

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After pulling out a 2-0 victory over UNC-Greensboro on Friday, UK continued its undefeated season by beating Southeast Missouri 1-0 on Sunday. The game marked the final game of the UK Topical Smoothie Invitational, and was played through constant rain. The one and only goal came from UK senior forward Natalie Horner nine minutes into the second half.

SEMO started the first half with the midfield kick-off, but quickly lost possession to UK and did not regain it until momentarily late in the first half and for longer in the second half. The Cats came out aggressively and picked up two corner kicks in the first two minutes. This set the offensive pace for UK through most of the rest of the half, but the Cats did not give SEMO keeper Ashton Aubuchon much to do. Set pieces came regularly for UK and some sneaky, low shots by senior Alyssa Telang and junior Ashley VanLandingham neared goal, but both missed wide left. Towards the end of the half, some sloppy passing by UK put SEMO in control of the ball as the 45-minute mark approached.

The second half began with UK attacking like they did in the first, and the Cats again got several set pieces in the first few minutes. It was only 10 minutes before a corner kick from junior Daniel Krohn found senior Natalie Horner in the back of the goal to put UK up 1-0. The Cats totaled eight corner kicks in the second half, 11 on the game.

With about 15 minutes left in the game, SEMO began to put together some strong offensive drives, but UK sophomore goalie Kayla Price along with her back line of VanLandingham, Telang, Horner and sophomore Arin Gilliland, were able to fend off any significant threats on their own goal.

UK’s defense has only conceded one goal this season, and they put that one in themselves. UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said of his defense this weekend, “I think we really came together.” That in reference to his claims earlier in the season that the defense was playing well individually, but that they needed to be a “team within a team.”

Though UK won both of its games in the Invitational, Louisville was the overall champion due to a greater goal differential. The Cats travel to Louisville next weekend to take on the Cards for the first game of the Cardinal Classic. The match will begin on Friday at 7:30 p.m.