Women’s soccer notches third win

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For the second straight game, the UK women’s soccer team entered halftime tied, with an offense that had stalled for the first 45 minutes.

Friday, they looked hesitant.  They looked confused.  The stat line was nearly empty except for a UK shot on goal with 15 seconds left in the half.  With a defense that had held Ohio University blank in the aforementioned category, something had to give.

“We needed to make some changes,” senior Kelsey Hunyadi said.  “That was evident.  We just weren’t playing as quick as we usually do.  We didn’t have the same intensity.”

The Cats wasted no time picking up that intensity.  One minute into the second half, Hunyadi connected from 15 yards out to put UK up 1-0.  Ten minutes later, Stuart Pope found the back of the net to make it 2-0.  Ohio added a 78th minute goal to narrow the deficit, but it was all for naught.  Just as quickly as they came, the offensive struggles were forgotten.

“We played really well in the second half,” head coach Jon Lipsitz said.  “The best half of the year in my opinion.  We had much more possession and started to play our style.  We challenged them to play better.”

For Hunyadi, it was a third goal of the young season, while the freshman Pope scored her first collegiate goal.

The win brought UK to 3-0-0 for the season.

UK returns to action Friday, Sept. 2, against Central Michigan in Louisville. The next home game is for Sept. 9 against the Louisville Cardinals.