Kentucky womens soccer (7-3) came up short in its second straight match in SEC play on Thursday, losing 2-0 in Nashville against Vanderbilt (7-1-1).

With both teams losing their SEC openers 2-1, to LSU and Ole Miss respectively, both started the match with aggressive attacks to the opposing defenses with hopes of a quick conference rebound.

Vanderbilt nearly opened up the scoring in the 19’ as the Commodores served in a free kick that sailed over the box and into the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed as it was ruled that Vandy’s Abena Aido ran into UK goalkeeper Tallulah Miller, preventing a save attempt.

Vanderbilt did however open the scoring anyways in the 34’ after Raegan Kelly played the ball into the box to Rachel Deresky, who was able to score the goal with a calculated finish into the bottom right corner, giving the Commodores a 1-0 lead.

Entering halftime, Vanderbilt dominated much of the first 45’, outshooting Kentucky 8-2, though the Commodores were only able to score the one goal.

Vanderbilt would extend its lead and make the score 2-0 early in the second half in the 50’ after Alex Wagner found the net from a corner served in by Kelly, taking advantage of Kentucky’s corner-kick-defense’s inability to deal with the ball, volleying it past Miller.

The Commodores came close to scoring a third goal in the 66’, but it was saved by Miller for the Cats, denying Deresky her second of the match 1-on-1.

The best chance for Kentucky to score came in the 70’ from Taylor Hattori, who hit a well struck shot from 25-yards-out that narrowly flew over the crossbar at the last second to ensure Vanderbilt’s seventh clean sheet this season.

With the loss, Kentucky continues to remain winless in the SEC having been outscored 5-1 despite being the second highest scoring SEC team in non-conference play with 27 goals.

The scoring flurry before conference play saw Kentucky secure its most non-conference wins since 2015 in the first year under head coach Troy Fabiano.

The Cats also remain winless on the road, also dropping their first road game of the season against Western Kentucky, the only non-conference game the Cats didn’t win.

To make matters worse, the loss also marks Vanderbilt’s sixth-straight win over Kentucky, continuing to prove to be a thorn in the side of the UK.

Turning its eyes towards the future, Kentucky looks to return to its winning ways and earn its first win in SEC play, taking Tennessee at home on Sunday, Sept. 25. Kickoff at the Bell is currently scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST and will air live on the SEC Network+.