Oct. 18, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - Caitlin King connected on her third goal of the weekend but Auburn could not capitalize on enough of its scoring chances despite owning an overwhelming advantage on the stat sheet as it fell to Kentucky, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon.
"Kentucky did a better job of finishing their chances, it's that simple," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "We had the opportunities, we had the chances but we didn't finish. They had less opportunities and finished a higher percentage and because of that one detail they deserved to win the game."
Auburn took 22 shots compared to just nine for Kentucky but was unable to finish on any of its chances outside of King's fifth goal of the season to fall to 6-7-3, 3-5-0 SEC. Kentucky is now 5-7-4, 2-5-1 SEC.
Kentucky took a 1-0 lead on Giuleana Lopez's fourth goal of the year in the 20th minute as she finished off a cross off of a free kick from a step inside the six.
Auburn took 14 first half shots while Kentucky could only register three but Kentucky keeper Laura Burton, making her first start of the season, made four saves in the half to keep Auburn off the scoreboard.
King was able to tie the game at 1-1 at the 64 minute mark, finishing off an Ana Cate feed for her 15th career goal. Cate had won a 50/50 ball and found King on the run for her second assist on the year.
Kentucky regained the edge in the scoring column in the 75th minute when Laura Novikoff flicked in her first goal of the season off of a Jenna Goblirsch cross for a 2-1 Kentucky lead.
"Kentucky's first goal was off of free kick into the wind and it was one of those scrambles in the box where they came out with it and we didn't. The second one we just got beat. We got beat on the end line on the cutback and we got beat in the box and Novikoff had a great finish on the flick header," Hoppa said.
King finished with a match-high seven shots, five of which went on goal, but outside of her goal, Burton was there to snuff out King's opportunities each time.
Amy Howard finished the match with five saves and now has 90 on the season while Burton made seven saves for Kentucky.
Auburn took five corners to Kentucky's four.
Kentucky was whistled for 19 fouls and Auburn for 17.
Auburn returns to the field on Thursday night in Knoxville, Tenn., when it faces Tennessee at 7pm ET.