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Penalty Kicks Save the Cats’ Tails as No. 1 Seeded Kentucky Survives at Home Against No. 8 Coastal Carolina

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Caleb Bowlin | UK Athletics

Chant their names. The Kentucky Wildcats (10-2-4, 7-1-1 SBC) started the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament as the No. 1 seed with a rematch against the No. 8 seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3-9-1, 2-6-1 SBC) – this time on home field turf.

When it comes to a tournament in any sport, anything can happen. Before this match, Kentucky had come to Conway and shut them down 2-0. Coastal couldn’t find an answer to UK’s offense, and as the rematch moved to Lexington, the much colder and more hostile environment would prove a much greater challenge for the Chanticleers.

Little did anybody know that the conference tournament would start with this kind of bang.

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First Half

Kentucky opened the match dominantly on the defensive side, keeping the ball almost exclusively to its side of the pitch for the first 10 minutes of the game. Coastal eventually gained its footing and got themselves some opportunities, but multiple steals and a clutch diving save from goalkeeper Sebastian Conlon kept Big Blue Nation from heartbreak.

The last 15 minutes of the half were when the offense really started to be the focal point of each team’s game plan; shots were coming off more often and both teams got an overturned goal by penalty.

Second Half + Extras

It’s very likely that the colder and gloomier weather hanging over Lexington in the second half was why both teams would become ice-cold on the offensive front. The first 15 minutes wouldn’t come with any shot opportunities, but Kentucky would start to bring a lot more pressure towards the tail end with three really close goals – two high, one right.

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After this, however, nothing truly of note seemed to land in either team’s offensive grasp as they played through two additional 10-minute periods. A great save by Coastal keeper Harrison Gough in the last minute would bring them to penalty kicks.

Penalty Kicks

The MVP of this game was Kentucky keeper Conlon, who quickly got into the heads of the teal opponents during penalty kicks, as they missed their first shot way high. On shot three, where the Cats’ PK was blocked, composure looked to remain high as Conlon blocked it right back.

It took eight penalty shots from each team before Conlon blocked a right-sided roll-in from Jimson St. Louis, securing the victory for the Wildcats and moving them through to the second round, where they play Central Florida (8-6-3, 4-3-2 SBC) on Nov. 12.

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The start of that match is set for 7:00 p.m. and streaming information is yet to be announced.

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Kentucky Women’s Basketball Announces SEC Schedule For 2026-27 Season

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Photo via UK Athletics

The clock of the offseason keeps on moving. As we tick closer and closer to the return of college basketball, we can at least get some early hype brewing for the conference foes!

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Kentucky Women’s Basketball revealed an official SEC schedule for the 2026-27 season with dates and locations. We already knew who the team’s opponents would be, but now we have even more of those fun details.

The team revealed the schedule by playing a fun game of “Heads Up” this morning. If yelling “SOONER” at the top of your lungs was an award, Gabby Brooks takes home the award.

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Year three of the Kenny Brooks era is slated to be challenging, but this roster he assembled may be his best yet. Brooks and his team will play eight games on the road this year and host another eight at Historic Memorial Coliseum, with Tennessee being the only opponent that Kentucky will face off against twice.

Sitting at a confirmed 28 games, the Big Blue Nation should expect a couple more non-conference matchups added to the schedule before it is finalized.

Below is the entire conference schedule with date and matchup. TV and tipoff assignments have not yet been announced.

OPPONENT DATE
@ FloridaThursday, Dec. 31
vs. Auburn Sunday, Jan. 3
@ MissouriThursday, Jan. 7
vs. TexasSunday, Jan. 10
vs. ArkansasThursday, Jan. 14
vs. Tennessee Thursday, Jan. 21
@ Oklahoma Sunday, Jan. 24
vs. Alabama Thursday, Jan. 28
@ South Carolina Sunday, Jan. 31
vs. LSU Thursday, Feb. 4
@ GeorgiaSunday, Feb. 7
@ Ole MissThursday, Feb. 11
vs. Vanderbilt Monday, Feb. 15
@ TennesseeSunday, Feb. 21
@ Texas A&MThursday, Feb. 25
vs. Mississippi StateSunday, Feb. 28

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Kentucky Deputy AD Marc Hill Accepts New Role at BYU

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Photo via UK Athletics

Kentucky’s athletics department continues to evolve as the faces we’ve seen for decades depart from the Wildcats and take on other opportunities.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, it was announced that deputy AD Marc Hill was hired to BYU’s executive team under athletic director Brian Santiago. Reported first by Pete Thamel, Hill will be taking on a new role after 27 years at the University of Kentucky.

Among his various positions over the years, Hill worked with former head coach Mark Stoops as a top admin for over a decade with Kentucky Football. He was promoted to deputy athletics director back in 2019, serving essentially as Mitch Barnhart’s No. 2.

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Now that the J Batt era is fully underway in Lexington, the landscape within the upper administration has a whole new look to it.

A statement from BYU’s athletics department and Santiago:

“BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago has announced the addition of longtime Kentucky Athletics administrator Marc Hill to the BYU Athletics senior leadership team.

Hill will serve as a deputy athletic director at BYU, overseeing various administrative and operational efforts within BYU Athletics.

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‘We are excited to add Marc to our executive team,’ Santiago said. ‘He brings a wealth of experience from the highest level of collegiate athletics that will elevate our entire athletic department. He is a great fit and will help us as we continue to chase greatness the BYU way. We look forward to welcoming the Hills to our BYU athletic family.’

Hill comes to BYU with 27 years of experience at the University of Kentucky. After serving nine years as executive associate athletics director, he was named deputy director of athletics in 2019 and served as the athletic director’s right-hand man. He also served as the sport administrator for Kentucky football.”

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Q & A With Kentucky Baseball Commit Kale Hammer

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Photo via Seattle University Athletics

Kentucky Baseball has built a culture that’s unbreakable, even through the thick and thin of a roller coaster season. The Bat Cats have appeared in four straight NCAA Tournaments, have fans pack out ballparks no matter the location and are never out of a ballgame.

Kale Hammer, a Seattle University left-handed pitcher, recently transferred to Kentucky on Wednesday, June 10. He started in 13 games in the 2026 season, going 2-4 with a 5.79 ERA. He tallied 61 strikeouts through 70.0 innings pitched as well.

Hammer sat down for an interview with myself as part of KY Insider, highlighting the culture, his transfer decision and how important he will be in the Wildcats’ bullpen next season.

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Q: What influenced your decision to transfer away and what stood out to you about Kentucky? Was it as simple as playing at a SEC school with more opportunities or was it more complex than that?

“What stood out to me about Kentucky is the coaching staff and how they are as human beings, they truly are great people and want to make their players better at every aspect of life. SEC was a big part but I felt like I connected with the Kentucky coaching staff very well and they were exactly what I was looking for.”

Q: What do you think the most impressive part of your game is? Are you focused in big moments, strikeout heavy, etc.?

“I believe the best part of my game is my ability to keep an even demeanor on the mound in any situation, I think I have a great ability to locate multiple pitches around the zone and be clutch in big moments.”

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Q: What’s your best leadership qualities? I think, and I speak for the fanbase, but the team is in need of a guy to lead the bullpen and consistently put out during the season and postseason.

“I’m a quarterback at heart, so I think when it comes to my leadership qualities I just want to lead by example. When energy is low always making sure to get it back up and everyone rally’s off of everyone.”

Q: How do you feel about the fanbase so far? I know you’ve only had a short glimpse of it, but have you had any interactions yet?

“It honestly doesn’t feel real yet to me, the amount of support I’ve already gotten within a few hours is incredible and I think that alone speaks for how awesome of a fanbase Kentucky has.”

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Q: What’s your personal goals for this upcoming season? You can be as specific as you want to be, and even include team aspirations as well.

“I definitely want to earn a big role on the staff, I believe I can help the team win but the most important thing to me is just that we win. I want to help bring Kentucky to Omaha next year and win the national title.”

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