Oct. 4, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite dominating every statistical category – including a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks and a 20-9 advantage in total shots, the Kentucky men’s soccer team allowed its first goal in a 394-minute span, suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Xavier Musketeers, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (5-3-2) suffered its first loss since a 3-1 setback at 24th-ranked Cal Poly on September 7 and lost for the first time at the UK Soccer Complex since a 2007 defeat to Tulsa, a span of five matches.
The Wildcats held the edge in shots (20-9) and corner kicks (10-0), controlling the tempo for the majority of the contest. UK had not allowed a goal in three consecutive matches, dating back to a harmless 86th-minute goal in a win over Michigan on September 17.
Dan Williams, the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, made two stellar saves in the match, including an acrobatic save to thwart a scoring opportunity seconds before the game-winning goal was delivered. Xavier keeper Adam Sokolowski totaled four saves, utilizing a solid Musketeer defense to keep XU in the game throughout.
In a gritty, emotionally-charged contest, Xavier led the foul count, 16-10 with five total cards being issued by center referee Josh Brooks. Sophomore midfielder C.J. Tappel was giving the first red card handed out to a Wildcat this season in the 82nd minute and head coach Ian Collins followed with a red card seconds later. Collins and Tappel must miss UK’s scheduled game at Tulsa on Wednesday.
Andy Dimbi netted his third goal of the season in the 81st minute, as Xavier (1-7-1) mounted a challenge in the box, forcing Williams to leave his position and post an impressive save and spray the ball back into play. Ryan Gray controlled the ball and moved it to Dimbi, who netted it home past a scrambling UK defense.
Michael Strong registered UK’s first attempt on goal in the eighth minute, as UK mounted an attack off a corner kick. Strong attempted a spinning bicycle kick of the ball, which was headed from Brad Walker, but the shot sailed wide.
After the game was controlled in the first 15 minutes between the 18-yard boxes, UK mounted an attack in the 17th minute, as the ball was played back to Jason Griffiths who attempted a low-lining shot tht sailed wide of the net by a few feet.
With UK executing its offense at a high level in the 18th minute, UK made another offensive run, setting up a threat inside the Xavier 18-yard box, but Barry Rice’s header attempt missed wide of the net.
Tappel had a chance in the 36th minute, as UK mounted an attack that resulted in Tappel firing a shot from about 25 yards out, missing high and wide.
Chad Hagerty had a good look at the net in the 38th minute, as he and Bingy Lara broke through the Musketeer defense, but Hagerty’s line-drive shot sailed wide of the net.
Xavier had a shot on goal, the first of the game in the 44th minute, as No. 13 played the ball into the box and shot from about 10 yards away, forcing Williams to save the shot.
Masumi Turnbull registered UK’s first shot on goal in the 61st minute, attempting a shot from 10 yards out that forced a save from the keeper for UK’s first shot on goal of the match.
With UK attempting to mount an attack in the final minute, UK had a flurry of activity in front of the Xavier goal, including a hard-hit Rice header that forced a diving save from Adam Sokolowski.
Rice, a preseason All-America defender, won 7-of-8 contested header attempts on the night, bringing his season total to 72-of-77 contested header attempts won in all 10 games this season.
Soccer returns to action on Wednesday with its second conference game, traveling to Tulsa, Okla., to battle C-USA power Tulsa at 7 p.m. ET.
