Kentucky women's soccer ranked for 1st time since 2015, named Team of the Week
Over at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex, Kentucky women’s soccer is making some serious noise.
Earlier this week, the undefeated Wildcats cracked the United Soccer Coaches’ top-25 national rankings for the first time since 2015, checking in at No. 18. Following Kentucky’s 1-1 draw against Tennessee on Thursday night, the ‘Cats now hold an overall record of 7-0-5 (1-0-4 SEC) so far this season.
Kentucky earned its top-25 ranking by upsetting No. 9 Alabama 2-1 last Friday, which also saw them named the NCAA’s “Team of the Week”. It was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 15 Arkansas in 2016. It was also the first top-10 victory since topping No. 5 Florida in 2014.
UK finished 2022 with a final record of 7-9-2 during head coach Troy Fabiano’s first season in charge. Now in year two, he’s got the ‘Cats playing their best soccer in nearly a decade.
UK also checked in at No. 23 (Top Drawer Soccer) and No. 16 (College Soccer News) in other national polls this week. The last time Kentucky made the top-25 national rankings was on Oct. 6, 2015, when they appeared at No. 20 in the country.
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In that win over Alabama last week, fifth-year forward Jordyn Rhodes was tabbed as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for her two-goal performance against the Crimson Tide. She became UK’s all-time leading goal scorer (45) in the process and currently ranks second in the conference for total goals scored (nine).
”Honestly, I’m just so proud,” Rhodes said following the win over Alabama, according to UK Athletics. ”I couldn’t have done it without all my teammates. It means so much. We’ve been so close my whole career and I’m glad to be a part of it trending upward.”
Rhodes has five game-winning goals on the year, the most of any player in the SEC, and two multi-goal games. She also won SEC Offensive Player of the Week — the third of her career — earlier this season on Sept. 4.
Kentucky will be in action again on Sunday, Oct. 8 when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores (7-3-3) at The Bell at 3:00 p.m. EST.
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