LEXINGTON, KY – A perfectly executed corner kick goal was not enough for the Wright State women's soccer team on Thursday night, as the Raiders played from behind all match against Kentucky, falling 4-1 in their final non-conference tilt of the season.
Wright State (3-4) now returns home to prep for its Horizon League opener, which will be next Thursday as the Raiders host Milwaukee at Alumni Field.
The Raiders had just six total shots against Kentucky (6-1), who outshot Wright State 20-6 overall and scored a pair of goals two minutes apart in the 14th and 16th minutes to take control of the night. The first tally came off the foot of Maggy Henschler in traffic before a long-distance shot from Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir found the top right corner just off the hands of Raider keeper
Jessika Seward.
A two-goal game at the break, the hosts added to the advantage at the 60:40 mark when Jordyn Rhodes' ball deflected off a pair of Raiders and found room just inside the right post to push the advantage to three.
Wright State's score came three minutes later when an offensive push resulted in a corner kick by
Olivia Mace that was placed right on the head of
Kaylin Helinski, who deposited it into the back of the net. The Raider pressure was short lived, however, as Kentucky had an odd-man rush in the 71st minute when the Wildcat player was taken down in the box by a pair of Wright State defenders. Úlfarsdóttir took the penalty kick and tallied her second goal of the night as her shot to the top right glanced off Seward's hands on the way to the net.
Seward finished with three saves, all in the second half, as Kentucky put seven of their 20 total shots on frame, while three of the six Raider attempts were on goal.
Lauren Borchert recorded a pair of shots for Wright State, both which were on frame, while Helinski also had two attempts. Úlfarsdóttir finished with a match-high eight shots and was one of six Kentucky players with multiple shot attempts.
Wright State opens Horizon League play next Thursday, September 15, at home against Milwaukee. First kick is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Alumni Field and the match is scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
