Sept. 19, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Unbeaten in the last 15 games, the No. 22 Kentucky men’s soccer team looks to set the school record for the best start to a season in the 19-year history of the program, hosting Marshall in the Conference USA opener, Sunday at 7 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.

Kentucky (5-0-0, 0-0-0 C-USA) needs one win to eclipse the school-record 5-0 start the 1995 UK team charted. The Wildcats have not lost in a school-record 15 games, dating back to a setback in October, 2008 against then-No. 14 Tulsa.

The Wildcats have totaled 11 goals in its first five games, allowing only three. Goalkeeper Dan Williams, a four-year starter, has totaled a 0.60 goals-against average, charting two clean sheets. With 16 shutouts in his career, Williams sits in fourth place in UK history, six shy of the school mark.

Offensively for UK, freshman midfielder Matt Lodge has sparkled in his collegiate debut netting four goals and adding one assist in his first five college games. The reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, Lodge has scored UK’s last three goals – two game winners – including both goals in a UK win over SIU-Edwardsville. Lodge’s first career assist came in UK’s win over UIC and two of his last three goals have come on free-kick shots from over 30-yards.

Midfielder Tyler Burns, a native of Aura, Colo., has totaled two goals and an assist, with Marco dos Santos, Jason Griffiths, Tim Crone, Brad Walker and Chad Hagerty each netting a goal. Lexington, Ky., native C.J. Tappel leads UK with two assists, showcasing an ability to deliver the game-changing cross into the box. Williams, Taylor White, Josh Albers, Cameron Wilder and Tim Muessig have each added assists for UK.

The game will mark the 23rd all-time meeting between the two schools, who played in the Mid-American Conference prior to joining C-USA. UK leads the all-time series, 13-5-3, including winning the last two games and three of the last four. Over the last 10 meetings, UK leads 6-2-2. In games played in Lexington, the Wildcats own a 6-1-1 record against the Thundering Herd.

Marshall (2-3-1, 0-0-0 C-USA) enters the game fresh off a 3-0 win over Ohio Valley on Sept. 15. The Thundering Herd has gotten three goals from Dustin Dawes and two goals from Matt Dickerson. Matt Butler, Devin Perkins and Fayanga Keita have each added goals. Butler leads the club with two assists, with Sammy Boateng, Ryan McLeod and Daniel Withrow each charting assists. In goal, returning starter Greg Walter has played in four games, allowing four goals, totaling a 1.29 goals-against average and saving 16 shots. Daniel Withrow has allowed three goals in his four games, saving nine shots and posting a 0.96 goals-against average.