Did Kentucky women's soccer keep it's dream season alive in the NCAA Tournament?

5 seed Kentucky women’s soccer ended its remarkable season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Starkville, with a 3-1 loss to fourth-seeded Notre Dame. Despite a spirited effort in the second half, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome a sluggish start that saw them trailing 2-0 at halftime.

The first half was a tough one for Kentucky. Notre Dame’s Izzy Engle found the back of the net just three minutes into the match, assisted by Grace Restovich. Less than 10 minutes later, Lily Joseph doubled the Fighting Irish’s lead with a stunning solo effort. Kentucky struggled to generate offensive momentum, managing just one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

But as they’ve shown all season, these Wildcats don’t quit. Coming out of the halftime break, Kentucky played with renewed energy. In the 53rd minute, Catherine DeRosa sparked hope for the Wildcats with a brilliant unassisted goal from just outside the box, curling it in the top corner; cutting the deficit to 2-1.

For a brief stretch, Kentucky looked poised to complete the comeback. Maddie Kemp and Alyssa Abramson pushed forward, forcing Notre Dame’s defense to scramble. However, the Fighting Irish regained their composure, and Lily Joseph struck again in the 60th minute on a breakaway that should have never happened. Kentucky had the ball and was trying to block out Notre Dame to draw a foul, Ellie Ospeck got a running start and took a clean tackle to spring a fast counter, this time off an Joseph calmly slotted it into the bottom corner, putting the game out of reach.

Goalkeeper Marz Josephson finished with five saves in a valiant effort, but Notre Dame’s efficiency in the attacking third proved too much to handle. Kentucky ends the season with an impressive 11-4-4 record, a testament to their growth and leaves fans excited for the future.

While the loss stings, this team has plenty to be proud of. The Lady Wildcats captivated fans and represented the Bluegrass State with heart and grit. For seniors like DeRosa, their contributions have left a lasting legacy, and for the underclassmen, this season sets the foundation for future success.

Kentucky may have fallen short this time, but the memories made and lessons learned will carry this program forward. As the season ends, the Big Blue Nation celebrates a team that gave everything on the pitch and made the Commonwealth proud.