LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Southeast Missouri women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the 2016 season Wednesday evening to Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky, 3-2.
 
Southeast is now 6-1-1 on the season. The loss is the third to Kentucky all-time.
 
The Redhawks trailed 1-0 at halftime but battled hard in the second half to tie the match twice before allowing the game-winner in the 80^th minute. After only getting two shots off in the first half, SEMO fired off eight in the second, matching the Wildcats. Four of the Redhawks' eight second-half shots were on goal.
 
Kindra Lierz (6-1-1) suffered her first loss in goal this season after allowing a season-high three goals. It's only the fourth time in her career she's allowed three of more goals in a match. Lierz made five stops Wednesday.
 
Evangeline Soucie (4-3-1) earned the win in goal for UK. Soucie made two saves and allowed both Redhawk goals.
 
In the match, Southeast was outshot, 16-10. UK had nine shots on goal while SEMO had four. Corner kick opportunities were low but SEMO had one more than Kentucky, 2-1. The Redhawks were called on 13 fouls while UK was called for only six.
 
Gonzales and Paige Blankenheim each had three shots to combine for six of the Redhawks' 10 total. Blankenheim landed two of her shots on goal, tying a career high.
 
Maddi Karstens took down Jade Klump in the box in the 29^th minute for a penalty kick opportunity for Kentucky. Kaitlin Miller took the PK and found the back of the net to Lierz's left, putting the Wildcats on the board, 1-0. It was the first goal given up to a Division I team this season by Southeast Missouri.
 
For only the second time this season, the Redhawks trailed at halftime, down 1-0. Southeast trailed in the shots department, 8-2. The Redhawks put neither of their shots on goal but both shots were just wide of the mark in the half. Lauren Kaempfe and Jennifer Brien were responsible for the SEMO shots.
 
Esmeralda Gonzales scored the equalizer in the 56^th minute, tying the match at 1-1. Gonzales capitalized on a mistake by Soucie on a pass back. The rebound found Gonzales who took the uncontested shot and found the back of the net. It was her second goal of the season.
 
The match wasn't tied long as Klump netted her first goal of the season three minutes later, putting the Wildcats back on top 2-1.
 
Blankenheim put a shot from far out on goal which Soucie punched over the goal for a SEMO corner kick. Jasmin Hilliard served the corner kick into the box, over Soucie, and right at the feet of Angie Mann who tapped it in, retying the match, 2-2. It was Mann's first goal in 2016 and Hilliard's second assist.
 
The Wildcats went back on top, 3-2, in the 80^th minute on a header goal by Tanya Samarzich, her sixth of the season.

Marissa Bosco led UK with four shots, putting two on goal, and contributing an assist. Miller and Samarzich each fired off three shots to complement their goals. Samarzich also assisted on Klumps' 58^th-minute goal. 
 
Southeast Missouri is back in action Sunday in the non-conference finale at Missouri State. The Redhawks and Bears are slated to begin at 1 p.m. from Springfield.