UK women’s soccer hangs hopes on remaining road schedule
September 29, 2010
By Brandon Thomas
The UK women’s soccer team finishes up this month of play and quickly turns its attention toward the next.
Through ten games this season, UK (6-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) is in a good position to make a run at the post-season because of its remaining schedule.
The Cats have nine games remaining on the schedule, not including the SEC tournament. Of the remaining games, all are against SEC opponents and three of those games are against SEC East teams.
If UK plays well for the rest of the season, the team will put itself in good position heading into the SEC tournament. If the Cats defeat the three remaining SEC East opponents on their schedule their chances at having an easier tournament will increase.
“Every game is important,” junior forward Kelsey Hunyadi said. “Any win helps and especially ones against the teams in the East.”
One of the big tests remaining in the season for the Cats will be the next four games, which all take place on the road. UK will travel to Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana State and Arkansas before returning home.
“Going on the road is going to be a challenge because we’ve been home all season,” Hunyadi said. “I think it’s a good time for a road trip, though. It’s a good time to go get some road wins.”
Team captain Hunyadi is not intimidated by the away crowds and unfamiliar environments that inevitably await a traveling team.
“The hecklers just equal motivation,” Hunyadi said. “We’ll just go down there and show them what UK soccer is all about.”
As in other sports, closing is one of the important facets of a successful season. Even a tremendous start to a season can be wiped away by not finishing strong.
UK has an opportunity with the way the schedule plays out to finish the season on a high note.
According to Hunyadi, such a finish would provide a boost in momentum heading into postseason play.
“Being able to tie together some wins at the end of the season would be a huge lift to take us into post season play and the SEC tournament,” Hunyadi said. “It’s what we’ve worked for all year and to get that momentum heading into the tournament would be a great pay off for all the hard work we’ve put in.”
