ORLANDO, Fla. — Aaron Swanson netted the game-winning goal in the 98th minute of overtime, as the Kentucky men?s soccer team took an early 2-0 lead and held on in extra time for a 3-2 win over host UCF, on a hot and humid night at the UCF Soccer Complex.
?We worked real hard tonight and really gutted it out,? Kentucky head coach Ian Collins said. ?We were short a few players and even lost a few during play, but our guys showed some real resiliency to battle through and get a big win.?
Swanson took a feed from UK midfielder Masumi Turnbull and broke through the Knights defense, netting the ball into the bottom lower right from 14 yards out for his first career game winner. The goal marked Swanson?s fourth of the season.
Kentucky (4-7-3, 2-2 Conference USA) took and early commanding lead, netting the first goal of the game in the 17th minute. Defender Barry Rice headed in his team best fifth goal of the season off a corner kick from Turnbull. Rice soared from about 14 yards out and headed the ball past the keeper into the upper 90. The assist for Turnbull was his second of the game and his team-high fifth of the season. The two assist game was Turnbull?s second career two-assist game, having accomplished the feat in a September 2006 win at UNC-Asheville.
Midfielder Jase Griffiths gave UK a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute, beating the keeper on a penalty kick for his first goal of the season. Swanson earned the penalty for the Wildcats after getting fouled while threatening to score from about six yards out. The goal was the first for the Bracknell, England, native, since delivering two goals in the C-USA semifinal win over Tulsa in the 2007 C-USA Tournament.
?We played probably our best 30 minutes of soccer in the first half, going up early and looking real tough,? Collins said. ?We created a lot of good chances and really showed some toughness on a hot and humid night on the road. Anytime you can win on the road in conference it is a big win and this gives us six points and moves us right up the table.?
UCF (4-8-1, 0-3-1 C-USA) got on the board in the 38th minute, as Mike Mattson, a junior 6-foot-2 forward, netted his fourth goal of the campaign on a penalty kick.
In the 86th minute, the Knights busted through the Wildcat defense for a game-tying goal to seize the momentum. James Georgeff netted his fourth goal of the season on a Mattson assist, all set u off a long throw in.
Early in the overtime period, UK had a great chance to walk off with the win, as Rice hit the post with a shot and the keeper saved the rebound.
UK?s rock steady keeper Dan Williams saved four shots and faced 16 from the Knights. In goal for UCF, Sean Johnson saved four Wildcat shots, facing 15. UCF threatened with 11 corner kicks to UK?s two, including a staggering eight in the first half.
The Wildcats now own a 3-1-1 all-time record with UCF, having claimed the past two meetings.
UK returns to action next Wednesday as it plays host to the Marshall Thundering Herd. Kickoff on Oct. 24 is set for 7 p.m. ET.
