Wildcats get blanked in Fayetteville; end 2022 season with a loss

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Abby Szydlik

Kentucky Wildcats midfielder Ava Hellner (2) keeps the ball away from a defender during the Kentucky vs. Eastern Michigan women’s soccer match on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 5-1. Photo by Abby Szydlik | Staff

Tyler Russell, Reporter

Kentucky womens soccer (7-9-2) made a trip down to Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Thursday to close out their season, ultimately losing 6-0 to the No. 9 Razorbacks.

Coming into the match, Kentucky was winless in conference play with the closest it came to a victory being a 1-1 draw against both the Florida Gators and the Missouri Tigers.

The Hogs came out of their pen and immediately took control of the match with Arkansas’ Makenzie Malham putting her squad up by one just two minutes into play. Following the goal, Arkansas showed no signs of slowing down.

Just a few minutes later, in the 4’, forward Ava Tankersley doubled the Hogs’ lead as she once again found the back of the net.

Arkansas struck again just a few short minutes later in the 9’, as Zoe Susi routed a ball past Kentucky goalkeeper Steph Stull, making it a 3-0 match.

In the 13’ Anna Podojil joined the fun as she found the bottom right of the goal, putting Arkansas ahead by four goals.

Starting the second half of play, the Hogs struck again in the 56’, just over 10 minutes into the half, as Jessica De Filipo etched her name onto the score sheet as well.

Tankersley netted yet another goal in the 65’ which would ultimately conclude the number of goals for Arkansas on the night.

With the loss, the Cats ended the season winless in SEC play and did not qualify for the SEC tournament, making the match the final of the season.

Kentucky will look to rebuild itself under head coach Troy Fabiano as it begins to prepare for the 2023 season.