COLUMBIA, S.C. — Matt Lodge netted his first goal of the season to put the Kentucky men’s soccer team up a goal early but Iona scored on an own goal in the 72nd minute and Douglas Stephens netted the golden goal in overtime, lifting Iona to a 2-1 win, in the final day of the Gamecock Classic on Sunday, hosted by the University of South Carolina at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium.
Kentucky (2-3-1) got the first goal of the year from Lodge, a 2009 freshman All-America honoree, in the eighth minute from approximately 40 yards out, putting UK up an early tally. The goal was the seventh of the two-year career for Lodge, a native of Rossington, England, and a preseason All-Conference USA selection.
UK was victim of an own goal in the 72nd minute, tying up the game at 1-1 late in the contest and breathing new life into the Gaels. In the 94th minute, Iona struck for the golden goal, as Adam Rohan hooked up with Stephens for the game-winning goal.
Iona (2-2-0) got six saves from Jesse Fullerton in the winning effort, with the Gaels totaling 13 shots and two corner kicks. UK goalkeeper Tyler Beadle, a freshman out of Douglasville, Ga., saved three shots in the contest. UK totaled game-highs in shots (18) and corner kicks (six).
The Wildcats were led individually by Pierre Manga, making his first career start, who tallied four shots in 52 minutes of action. Freshmen Ellis Vienne, who also made his first career start, and Sam Brooks each had three shots, along with defender Drew Midkiff. UK started five freshmen in the game with Iona and played a total of 16 players, nine of which are in their first seasons at Kentucky.
The Wildcats will continue a rugged non-conference slate, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face off with Michigan on Wednesday, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be played at the brand-new U-M Soccer Stadium, which recently welcomed a school-record 3,503 fans for a conference match with Notre Dame on the dedication day for the new facility.
