Sept. 8, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After dispatching IUPUI and Bowling Green in the University of Kentucky Invitational over the weekend, the UK men’s soccer team has been ranked second in the Midwest region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, it was announced Tuesday.

The NSCAA does weekly national and regional rankings, with the national rankings consisting of the top-25. UK was the second team receiving votes in the national top-25, essentially ranking them No. 27. In the Midwest region, UK ranked No. 2 behind only Creighton and ahead of Drake, SMU and Oakland in the top-five.

Kentucky (2-0-0) is coming off two wins in the UK Invitational, defeating IUPUI  2-1 in the season-opener Friday night in front of 1,412 fans. Sunday, UK pounded Bowling Green 4-1 in front of 1,475 fans, getting goals from Tyler Burns, Jason Griffiths, Matt Lodge and Tim Crone.

The Wildcats return to action Friday, traveling to play in the University of Louisville Invitational Tournament. UK will face Illinois-Chicago, ranked as high as No. 10 last week, Friday at 5 p.m. ET. Sunday, UK will face SIU-Edwardsville at noon in Louisville.

NSCAA Midwest Top-10
1. Creighton
2. Kentucky
3. Drake
4. SMU
5. Oakland
6. UAB
7. Memphis
8. Bradley
9. Tulsa
10. Missouri State

NSCAA National Top-25

1. Akron 
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina
4. St. John’s
5. Creighton
6. UC Santa Barbara 
7. Maryland
8. South Florida
9. UC Irvine
10. Notre Dame
11. California
12. Indiana
13. Dartmouth
14. Boston University
15. UCLA
16. Virginia
17. Louisville
18. North Carolina State
19. Duke    
20. Michigan State
21. Tulsa
22. Northwestern
23. San Francisco
24. Monmouth
25. Connecticut

Also receiving votes: Michigan 56, Kentucky 46, Illinois-Chicago 39, South Carolina 34, Virginia Commonwealth 31, Loyola (Md.) 24, Drake 24, SMU 22, San Diego 14, UAB 9, American 8, Saint Louis 6, College of Charleston 6, Harvard 6, Georgetown 6, Boston College 6, Cal Poly 4, Cincinnati 3, Lafayette 1