LEXINGTON, KY – Francis Marion University put up a valiant effort, including a 13-save performance by junior goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry, but the Patriots fell to SEC power Kentucky 5-0, Friday evening (Aug. 29) in non-conference women’s college soccer action.

Francis Marion drops to 0-2-0, while the Wildcats improve to 2-1-0.  Kentucky was opening its new Bell Soccer Complex and drew a home-opener crowd of 1,047.

FMU will return to action on Monday evening (Sept. 1) when the Patriots play host to East Carolina University on (summer) Camper Night.  Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field in the Griffin Athletic Complex.

O’Berry, who ranked 23rd nationally last season in total saves, came within three stops of her career high of 16 saves set against Texas Tech during her freshman season.

The Wildcats registered 33 shots during the match and earned all nine of the contest’s corner kicks.

Kentucky’s Michaela Dooley broke a scoreless deadlock in the 15th minute.  Arin Gilliland doubled the margin to 2-0 with a 25th minute tally, but that would be all the Patriots would surrender in the opening half.

Kentucky scored twice in the first 4:21 of the second stanza and then added a fifth score with only 2:27 left in the match.

Kentucky (2-1-0) def.  Francis Marion Univ. (0-2-0) 5-0

Date: Aug 29, 2014  Attendance: 1047Weather: 88 degrees, Winds SSE 6 mph, clear
Goals by period          1  2  Tot---------------------------------------Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0Kentucky............        2  3 -  5
SCORING SUMMARY:1-0.  14:28 UK Dooley, Michaela (1) (Gilliland, Arin) - Thru ball comes in and finished past the keeper to keeper's left2-0.  24:34 UK Gilliland, Arin (3) (Carter, Alex) - Thru ball from midfield is put home far post3-0.  47:25 UK Raetzman, Courtney (1) (Gilliland, Arin) - Finished in off a rebound from Gilliland4-0.  49:21 UK Klump, Jade (1) (Pope, Stuart) - Rebound off the first two shots in front of goal from the rebounds5-0.  87:33 UK Collier, Kennedy (1) (Hubly, Kelli) - Finished to keepers right after found space at top of box
Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 0, Kentucky 33 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 13 (Taylor O'Berry 13), Kentucky 0 (Taylor Braun 0, Ayanna Parker 0)