Kentucky (5-0-0) continued its potent offensive start to the season on Thursday night, racing past Purdue Fort Wayne (0-3-1) by a final score of 6-0. The Wildcats were led on the night by senior Catherine Rapp, with the Evergreen, Colorado native delivering two goals and two assists to pace her team.
Rapp’s brace is now the fourth of the season for Kentucky through five matches and brings her into a tie for second on the team with four goals scored this season. Her four assists and 12 points through the first two-and-a-half weeks are both tied for the team lead.
Kentucky delivered another dominant performance on the offensive side of the ball, controlling possession at a 67 percent to 33 percent clip and outshooting the Mastodons 35-2. The Cats set season high marks with 35 shots, 14 shots on goal, and 18 corner kicks. The 2025 squad has now set a school record for the most goals scored through five matches, currently sitting with a season tally of 21 goals.
The Wildcats are now unbeaten in their last 19 home matches and last 22 regular season non-conference contests, with both streaks dating to the 2023 season.
Kentucky was able to open the scoring within the first ten minutes for the fourth time this season, as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review showing a Mastodon handball in the box. Freshman Gabi Poretto stepped to the stop to take the ensuing penalty kick in the eighth minute, with the Lithia, Fla. native burying the try for her first career goal. The Cats have now earned a penalty kick in all five matches this season.In the 18th minute, a perfectly executed short corner kick allowed Kentucky to double its lead. Tanner Strickland passed the ball to Rapp off the set piece, with the senior dishing to Anna Sikorski outside the 18-yard-box. The Muskego, Wisc. native blasted the ball with her left foot towards the lower-left corner of the goal, netting her fourth score of the season.
Rapp would then find the back of the net via a loose ball on each side of the halftime break to push Kentucky’s lead to 4-0. In the 31st minute, an Alexis Tylenda shot on goal was saved by Purdue Fort Wayne, but Rapp charged towards the goal mouth to put away the rebound. After the break, Rapp would capitalize on a tackle that left the ball dislodged, allowing her to slot the ball home in the 48th minute.
Kentucky would use some great buildup to score its fifth goal of the night, with Sikorski delivering the ball to Rapp, who laid the ball off to Strickland with a flick of her back heel. The junior from Tampa, Fla. received the exquisite pass in style, moving the ball to her right foot and firing a strike into the upper-right corner of the net. The goal was the first of the season for Strickland and the second of her career, snapping a 37-match scoreless drought.
The final goal of the night was scored by freshman Kaylin Mallon in the 78th minute. Mimi Dominguez received the ball in the box and was met with a triple team, allowing the sophomore to lay the ball of to an open Mallon. The Bohemia, N.Y. native finished with composure to net the first goal of her collegiate career and give Dominguez the first assist of her Kentucky career.
The Wildcats will stay at home and face their first power conference opponent of the season, hosting Illinois on August 31 at 1 p.m. ET. The match will stream on SEC Network +. Admission to all 2025 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public.
Courtesy: UK Athletics
