LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky (10-4-2) held off a late surge from South Carolina (10-2-4) to secure a 3-2 victory in a dramatic SEC matchup on Thursday evening at the Kentucky Soccer Complex. The match featured three first-half goals and a tense finish after a late penalty conversion by South Carolina's Cuyler Zulauf.
Kentucky's Kendall Campbell opened the scoring in the 9th minute, heading home a precise cross from Anna Sikorski. The Wildcats doubled their advantage in the 14th minute when Thalia Morisi found the net off an assist from Catherine Rapp. South Carolina pulled one back in the 40th minute through Mackenzie Johnson, who capitalized on a setup from Jyvanna Harris. Gabrielle Poretto extended Kentucky's lead to 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute before Zulauf converted a penalty in the 79th minute to set up a tense finish.
The first half showcased Kentucky's attacking prowess as they dominated possession and created multiple scoring opportunities. The Wildcats' pressure resulted in five corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, with Campbell and Morisi's clinical finishing giving them a commanding lead. South Carolina goalkeeper Christina Tsaousis made two crucial saves to keep her team within striking distance.
South Carolina showed renewed energy after the break, pressing higher up the pitch and creating more dangerous opportunities. The Gamecocks' tactical adjustment to a more aggressive formation paid dividends as they forced Kentucky deeper into their defensive third. The introduction of substitutes Autumn Cayelli and Alexa Pino in the second half provided fresh attacking impetus for the visitors.
The match statistics reflected Kentucky's overall control, as they outshot South Carolina 11-4, putting six attempts on target compared to the Gamecocks' three. Kentucky also held a significant advantage in corner kicks (8-2). The physical nature of the match was evident in the card count, with South Carolina's Reagan Schubach and Taylor Bloom receiving yellows, while Kentucky's Gabrielle Poretto was cautioned late in the second half.
Kentucky's Thalia Morisi was particularly influential throughout the match, combining well with Anna Sikorski to create numerous attacking opportunities. South Carolina's Cuyler Zulauf showed tremendous composure in converting the late penalty, while Christina Tsaousis made several important interventions to keep the Gamecocks in contention, finishing with three saves. Kentucky goalkeeper Megan Holland recorded one crucial save in the closing minutes.
Tactically, Kentucky's high-pressing approach and quick transitions proved effective in disrupting South Carolina's build-up play. The Wildcats' ability to exploit wide areas through Sikorski and Campbell created consistent attacking threats. South Carolina's second-half adjustment to a more direct attacking style nearly paid off, but Kentucky's defensive organization, led by Skye Leach and Alexis Tylenda, helped preserve their lead.
The victory extends Kentucky's unbeaten run to two matches following their draw with Ole Miss, while South Carolina's five-game unbeaten streak came to an end. The result strengthens Kentucky's position in the SEC standings as they continue their impressive home form this season.
Both teams face quick turnarounds with crucial conference matches ahead. Kentucky travels to face LSU on Sunday afternoon, while South Carolina returns home to host Texas A&M in a pivotal SEC clash Sunday evening. The Wildcats will look to build on this momentum, while the Gamecocks aim to bounce back from just their second defeat of the season.