LEXINGTON ? Senior Riley O?Neill banged home the game-winning goal in the 56th minute earning his second GW in as many games this year as Kentucky claimed the UK Invitational Championship with a 2-1 victory over UW-Green Bay on Saturday night.
O?Neill was named the tournament?s Offensive MVP after registering his first career hat trick on Friday and following that up with his goal on Saturday. With a defender on his hip, he made a run into the box where freshman Jase Griffiths fed him the ball from the left flank. In a physical move, O?Neill held off the defender and scored in the lower left corner for the winner.
The goal was the fourth of the year for O?Neill, matching his total from all of 2005. He has moved into seventh place on UK?s all time scoring list with 15 career goals and is fifth all time with seven game winners.
It was the second time in as many games Griffith?s has assisted on an O?Neill game winner. For his efforts, Griffiths, who led UK with five shots, was named to the All-Tournament team. Michael D?Agostino, who scored the first goal of the game and Dan Williams were also selected to the team. Williams, who allowed only one goal over the course of the tournament, was chosen as the Defensive MVP.
D?Agostino gave Kentucky an early 1-0 lead on a penalty kick in the third minute. He was taken down in the box by Lati Ziba and shot behind keeper Adam Stikl, who guessed wrong.
The Phoenix knotted the match at 1-1 with their own penalty kick in the 51st minute. Freshman Barry Rice was called for the foul in the box and David Znaty buried the equalizer.
After a sluggish first half that saw UWGB control the action, Kentucky came out much more aggressive in the second 45. The midfield created numerous scoring opportunities for UK as the Wildcats fired off 12 shots, including six on goal. All three of D?Agostino?s shots were on frame.
Early on, Williams kept UK in it with a pair of thrilling saves. In the 21st minute, Tosaint Ricketts fired from just inside the 18 and Williams made a diving save to punch the strike wide of the woodwork.
Eight minutes later, Ziba ripped a shot from 30 yards out that was deflected, reversed course and forced Williams to make another spectacular save to preserve the early lead. For the game, Williams made three saves.
Kentucky nearly added an insurance goal in the 65th minute, but Stikl came off his line to deny D?Agostino in a three-on-one. D?Agostino chose not to pass as UK?s other two attackers were dangerously close to offsides. Instead, he crossed his defender over for a free look, but Stikl made the save.
The Phoenix best chance to tie after O?Neill?s goal came in the 79th minute as Znaty got behind the back four. However, the ball played over the top was slightly too far out in front. Williams came out and forced a shot well over the cross bar.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to rival Louisville for its first road test of the year. Last season, the Wildcats beat the Cardinals 1-0 for their fourth straight win in the series, which UK leads 9-2-3 all time.
