Lexington Gets Ready for Epic NCAA Showdown
Exciting times are ahead as the fifth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats women’s soccer team gears up for a thrilling matchup against the fourth-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round of the NCAA tournament. This match is highly anticipated on Friday, November 22nd, at 3:30 p.m. ET (that’s 2:30 p.m. CT for our friends in the South).
High Hopes After a Historic Win
The Wildcats are buzzing with excitement after a heart-pounding victory over West Virginia. After a nail-biting 1-1 draw through 110 minutes of play, the team triumphed in a penalty shootout with a score of 4-2. The Mountaineers were first to score, but just three minutes later, Maddie Kemp tied things up with her fifth goal of the season. Talk about a comeback!
When the game went into overtime, neither team could find a winner. But the Wildcats showed incredible grit and determination by going a perfect four for four from the penalty spot! With brilliant saves from star goalkeeper Marz Josephson, the Wildcats celebrated their first NCAA tournament win in a decade. That’s making history!
Notre Dame’s Strong Start
The Fighting Irish are coming off a dominant 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Panthers. In that match, five different players joined the score sheet—a testament to their diverse offensive threat. Leading the charge is freshman sensation Izzy Engle, who has been lighting up the field with an impressive 17 goals on the season, totaling an astonishing 35 points.
A Historic Rivalry with a Twist
This will be the second meeting between these two squads. The previous encounter ended in a tough 9-0 loss for the Wildcats back on October 14th. Kentucky is hungry for redemption this time around, trying to rewrite the history books in this second-round clash.
Kentucky’s NCAA Journey
The Wildcats are making their 12th appearance in the NCAA tournament and have an overall record of 3-10-3. This is their fourth-ever trip to the second round, and the last time they made it this far, they defeated Arizona State, 3-1, back in 2014. That magical run propelled them into the Sweet 16, a feat they’d like to replicate.
What’s Next?
The winner of the Kentucky vs. Notre Dame clash will face off against the victor of the match between No. 1-seed Mississippi State and Washington. That matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 24th.
Go Cats! Ready to take on Notre Dame and make some noise in the tournament!
