LEXINGTON, Ky. – Despite holding their opponents scoreless in the first half, the Lipscomb (2-5-2) women’s soccer team fell to Kentucky (5-4) 2-0 on Friday night at the Bell Soccer Complex.

The Bisons surrendered two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half after ending the first half in a 0-0 stalemate.

Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Melissa Gray prevented a third score from happening as she saved a Wildcat penalty kick in the 56^th minute.

In her first career start, Gray notched seven saves and made the first penalty stop for the Bisons this season.

Kentucky struck first in the 49^th minute as Katy Keen set up a Payton Atkins header off of a free kick.

The Wildcats notched their second goal in the 65^th minute as Julia Grosso fired one in from outside the box into the upper left corner.

Women's Soccer Head Coach Kevin O'Brien's Thoughts: 

"Kentucky were very good tonight and thoroughly deserved the result. They were quicker and sharper to most balls, and then had some great attacking sequences that really caused us problems.

"As for our team, I again saw some glimpses of the quality soccer we can play. But, it's hard to break down the athleticism we've been seeing from these SEC teams.

"We scheduled difficult opponents for a reason and that's to prepare us for conference. Only time will tell if it was a good decision on my part."

"We've got to rebound mentally and physically so that we're ready to face another good team in Alabama State. They were an NCAA tournament team in 2016, and they didn't play on Thursday or Friday, so they are good and fresh. It's going to be a real test for our team."

QUICK HITS:

• Lipscomb is now 0-1 in the series history against Kentucky, and 2-9-2 against SEC opponents, with a 0-3-1 record this season.
• A season-high 19 different Bisons made appearances in the loss.
• Kentucky outshot Lipscomb 25-6, with a 9-2 shots-on-goal advantage.
• Sophomore Olivia Doak and redhshirt-freshman Selah Gilmore notched the shots-on-goal for the Bisons.
• The Wildcats earned six corner kicks to Lipscomb’s four.
• Gray and junior Justis Bailey went the full 90 minutes for the Purple and Gold.
• Sophomores Callista Pascarella and Jordan Walsh picked up yellow cards.

UP NEXT: The Bisons will have a quick turnaround as they head back to Nashville for a 1 p.m. showdown against Alabama State on Sunday.