Kentucky women’s soccer returns to postseason play. View the bracket for the SEC tourney.
The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team concluded its regular season with a defeat on Thursday night but the Wildcats now move on to postseason play for the first time since 2020.
Ole Miss scored on a penalty kick in the 86th minute to defeat UK 1-0 in Oxford, Mississippi.
UK ends the regular season 9-3-5 overall and 3-3-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
Kentucky will be the No. 7 seed in the SEC Tournament when play gets underway in the 10-team event on Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Florida.
The Wildcats open against No. 10 seed LSU (8-7-3, 3-5-2) at 2 p.m. EDT (SEC Network). The teams did not meet during the regular season.
The winner of the SEC Tournament earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky, at No. 36 in the Ratings Percentage Index, appears well-positioned for an at-large bid even if it is unable to secure the league championship. Last season, eight SEC schools received at-large bids into the 64-team NCAA field.
Kentucky has not played in the SEC Tournament since 2020 and in the NCAA Tournament since 2014.
UK almost tied Thursday’s match after Ole Miss (7-7-3, 3-5-2) took its late lead.
Mississippi goalkeeper Shu Ohba knocked a long-range shot by Kentucky’s Maggy Henschler off the crossbar, resulting in a UK corner kick. The Cats were unable to convert their last-second opportunity as the final whistle blew.
Ole Miss outshot Kentucky 12-7 on the night. Kentucky keeper Marz Josephson made five saves.
SEC Tournament
At Pensacola, Florida
All times EDT
All matches on SEC Network
Sunday
2 p.m.: No. 7 seed Kentucky vs. No. 10 LSU
4:30 p.m.: No. 8 Auburn vs. No. 9 Tennessee
Tuesday
1 p.m.: No. 2 Georgia vs. Kentucky-LSU winner
3:30 p.m.: No. 3 South Carolina vs. No. 6 Texas A&M
6 p.m.: No. 1 Arkansas vs. Auburn-Tennessee winner
8:30 p.m.: No. 4 Mississippi State vs. No. 5 Alabama
Thursday
Semifinals at 6 and 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 5
2 p.m.: Championship match