March 9, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After a historic 12-win 2008 campaign that included runner-up finishes in the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships, the Kentucky men’s soccer team finished the 2008 season ranked No. 25 in the nation in average home attendance, the NCAA announced.

Kentucky, which finished the 2008 season ranked No. 21 with a 12-4-5 record and a school-record 10-match unbeaten streak, averaged a total of 1,001 fans per game in nine home contests. UK improved upon its C-USA-leading 888 fans per game from 2007, checking in second in the league in 2008, as South Carolina averaged 1,185 fans per game.

“We have some of the best fans in college soccer,” UK head coach Ian Collins said. “Our student support is always great and people in the Commonwealth are always behind us. Our constantly improving attendance numbers backs up just what kind of fan support we get each game and that is critical to our success on the pitch. To consistently rank tops in the conference and among the best in the nation in attendance speaks volumes about our fan base.”

In 2009, UK returns its captain trio from 2008, goalkeeper Dan Williams, All-American defender Barry Rice and first-team all-conference midfielder Jason Griffiths. All three earned all-conference accolades a year ago, with Rice becoming the third All-American in program history, in addition to becoming the first player in C-USA history to win conference defensively player of the year in consecutive seasons.