PENSACOLA, Fla. \u2013 As the calendar turns to November, sixth-seeded Kentucky (11-4-3, 5-2-3 SEC) will embark on its first postseason match of 2025 as it faces No. 11 seed Florida (6-6-5, 2-3-5 SEC) in the First Round of the Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament. Kickoff from the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla. is slated for 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network with Alex Perlman and Marion Crowder on the call.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats are making their third consecutive appearance in the annual event after a stretch of only one appearance from 2016-2022. Kentucky will be searching for its first win in Pensacola under fourth-year Head Coach Troy Fabiano, with the Wildcats\u2019 only advancement coming via penalties after a 0-0 tie against LSU in 2023.<\/p>\n
Kentucky finished the regular season with 11 wins for the second consecutive season, a first for the program since a four-year stretch from 2011-2014. The Cats also finished fifth in the SEC table with 18 points, best for a Fabiano-led squad and a first for the program since 2014.<\/p>\n
Three Wildcats earned All-SEC honors, led by junior defender Grace Hoytink on the All-SEC Second Team. The Menomonee Falls, Wisc. native tallied two assists from corner kicks, played all but five minutes of conference action, and held down a Kentucky backline that allowed the fewest shots in the league.<\/p>\n
Junior midfielder Tanner Strickland earned a spot on the All-SEC Third Team, starting every match for the Wildcats, scoring a career-high two goals and six assists, and drawing seven penalty kicks.<\/p>\n
Defender Gabi Poretto received an All-Freshman Team nod after a successful rookie campaign in which she tied the Kentucky freshman record with four game-winning goals and was the Cats\u2019 every day starter at centerback.<\/p>\n
Kentucky and Florida are meeting for the seventh time in the SEC Tournament, with the Gators holding a 5-1 advantage. The Cats\u2019 only win came in the 2006 Championship match while Florida claimed the last meeting in a wild, overtime match in 2020 that ended in a 6-5 scoreline.<\/p>\n
The two teams met earlier this season in Gainesville, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. In the Swamp, Florida claimed an early advantage before a Thalia Morisi header equalized the match in the second half, allowing the Cats to escape with a road point. The Wildcats and Gators have played in each of the previous four regular seasons and have seen each match end in a tie.<\/p>\n
The winner of Sunday\u2019s contest awaits No. 3 seed\u2014and United Soccer Coaches No. 17\u2014Georgia. The quarterfinal match will take place at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 4 on SEC Network.<\/p>\n
For the latest on UK Women\u2019s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, X<\/a> and at UKathletics.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n