Oct. 8, 2008
TULSA, Okla. — Despite junior Tim Crone’s third goal of the year, the Kentucky men’s soccer team allowed a game-deciding own goal in a 2-1 loss at No. 15 Tulsa, on Wednesday night at Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.
Kentucky (5-4-2, 1-1 Conference USA) suffered its first conference loss of the season to the high-power Golden Hurricane, getting outshot 22-7 with Tulsa holding a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks. UK had allowed only one goal in its past 404 minutes entering the match, and suffered defeat for just the second time in the last seven matches.
Tulsa’s Chris Taylor netted a goal in the 56th minute, after a UK foul in the 18-yard box resulted in a penalty kick. Taylor notched his second goal of the season on the penalty, giving Tulsa a 1-0 advantage. The goal was the second penalty kick goal allowed by the Wildcats this season.
In the 76th minute, UK booted in its first own goal of the season. The Golden Hurricane’s Diego Henriquez hit a cross that struck a UK defender, who accidently put it in the net for an own goal, giving Tulsa a 2-0 advantage.
Crone followed up the Tulsa (6-3-1, 3-0 C-USA) goal seconds later in the 76th minute, hooking up with junior Sam Vernalls. Crone, a forward and native of Cincinnati, Ohio, fired a shot from 12 yards out, beating the keeper for his third goal of the season, tying him for second on the team. The assist marked Vernalls team-best third of the season.
UK junior goalkeeper Dan Williams totaled seven saves on the match, a season-high for the 6-foot-2 native of Fairfax Station, Va. Tulsa keeper Tyrel Lacey finished the match with four saves, facing seven UK shots.
The Wildcats got shots on goal from several players in addition to Crone, including preseason All-American Barry Rice, Jason Griffiths, Issam Sawtarie and Michael Strong. Marco dos Santos and Vernalls each added off-target shots.
The UK loss evens the series between the two schools, 3-3, with the Wildcats suffering their first-ever defeat at Tulsa.
UK returns to action on Sunday, facing South Carolina at 2 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
