‘We’re old but new’: Kentucky women’s soccer continues rebuild under second-year coach

When reflecting on his first season as Kentucky women’s soccer head coach, Troy Fabiano cited patience as one of his biggest takeaways.

The project the former head coach at Milwaukee took over in Lexington near the end of 2021 should be viewed as a multi-year rebuild.

UK hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014, which was also the last year the Wildcats won a match in the SEC Tournament.

Overall, Kentucky hasn’t posted a winning record in women’s soccer since 2015.

So with this added context, Fabiano’s debut season mark of 7-9-2 (W-L-D) can be considered more than respectable, even if the Cats failed to win an SEC match, going 0-8-2 in conference play.

Fabiano’s second season as UK head coach began last Thursday night with a comfortable, if at times precarious, 1-0 victory against Eastern Kentucky at UK’s Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.

“The turnaround, the rebuild at this level, doesn’t happen in one recruiting class,” Fabiano said following that win over EKU.

But last week’s victory was also a result that reflected the distinct makeup of Kentucky’s 2023 roster.

There are 23 new players on this year’s UK squad: 12 transfers and 11 freshmen. This is an increase from the 17 newcomers Fabiano brought in last season.

The dozen transfers alone bring a combined 46 goals and 52 assists to Lexington from their previous college stops.

But several longtime UK women’s soccer players are also returning and aiming to provide a veteran presence.

This includes graduate student forward Jordyn Rhodes, who is tied for the second-most goals scored in program history with 37 and who tallied the deciding header in the win over EKU.

“It’s been a learning process just because there’s so many (new) people. But it’s kind of nice because half of us are experienced,” Rhodes said. “It’s actually been a lot more successful than we were anticipating, just because it’s hard to bring that many new girls into a program.”

Graduate student defender Maggy Henschler followed Fabiano from Milwaukee and has been a physical and vocal leader since joining UK prior to the 2022 season.

Another key returner is senior midfielder Anna Young, who spent the summer playing for Lexington Sporting Club’s W-League team and has shifted from left back to midfield for the Wildcats.

“Just communicating with each other, I feel like that’s the only way we’re going to be able to create chemistry is being able to listen and talk to each other,” Rhodes said of how UK’s experienced players are trying to help the team mesh.

“We’re old but new, it doesn’t make much sense,” Fabiano said with a laugh. “But I think that’s the way to describe us.”

New goalkeeper among major additions

While Fabiano was quick to point out the standout play of two freshmen — defender Grace Hoytink and midfielder Tanner Strickland — following the win against EKU, it was a more experienced offseason addition for the Wildcats that could pay dividends both this season and beyond.

Graduate student goalkeeper Marz Josephson spent four seasons at North Carolina, a perennial power in women’s college soccer.

During her time with the Tar Heels, Josephson reached two NCAA Tournament championship games, along with another appearance in the national semifinals.

Despite missing her sophomore and junior seasons due to injury, Fabiano said Josephson — who also spent the summer playing for Lexington Sporting Club’s W-League team — has brought a professional work ethic to the UK roster.

Josephson produced one of the highlight moments from Kentucky’s season-opening win, recording a one-on-one breakaway save in the second half to preserve the shutout and victory.

“Her mindset, the way she approaches the game, is just absolutely like a professional,” Fabiano said. “I think the way it will shape us in that spot, she will have an impact while she’s here, and she’ll have an impact while she’s gone with the freshmen coming in next year that can work with her.”

Josephson was one of eight new starters for last Thursday’s match for UK.

The hope is that this influx of new talent will help the Wildcats come conference play.

“I do think we’re more athletic. I think we have more grit, we have some bite,” Fabiano explained. “Marz does help us in that sense. She can make a save like that and, instead of getting a point, you get three.”

“The one thing I realize is the SEC is very unforgiving,” Fabiano added. “If you’re not up to par, they don’t care. They’ll steamroll you, and I can appreciate that. And I look forward to hopefully, at some point, returning favors.”

Alcohol, beer sales now allowed at Bell Soccer Complex

During his annual summer press conference with reporters, Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart made the long-awaited announcement that beer and seltzer drinks would be sold at all UK athletics events.

This followed a successful spring implementation of beer and seltzer sales at Kentucky Proud Park for UK baseball games and John Cropp Stadium for UK softball games.

While most of the attention from this announcement was centered around the sale of alcoholic beverages coming to Kroger Field and Rupp Arena, it also meant alcoholic beverages would now be sold at the Bell Soccer Complex.

Last Thursday’s Kentucky women’s soccer match was the first UK Athletics event of the 2023-24 school year.

Sure enough, beer and seltzer products were available for purchase.

Bud Light, Bud Light seltzers and Michelob Ultra were the three options available for purchase, and alcohol sales stopped 15 minutes into the second half.

Kentucky women’s soccer 2023 schedule

Home games in all capital letters.

Aug. 17: EASTERN KENTUCKY, 1-0 win

Aug. 24: At Murray State, 5 p.m., ESPN Plus

Aug. 27: VALPARAISO, 1 p.m.

Aug. 31: UT MARTIN, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 3: ILLINOIS, 1 p.m.

Sept. 7: BELMONT, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 10: At Iowa State, 2 p.m.

Sept. 15: At Texas A&M, 8 p.m.

Sept. 21: SOUTH CAROLINA, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 24: At Florida, 2 p.m.

Sept. 29: ALABAMA, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5: At Tennessee, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8: VANDERBILT, 3 p.m.

Oct. 15: MISSISSIPPI STATE, 3 p.m.

Oct. 19: At Georgia, 6 p.m.

Oct. 22: MISSOURI, 1 p.m.

Oct. 26: At Ole Miss, 7 p.m.