LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team returns to action Friday night when it takes on Gonzaga at 4 p.m. ET in the Stephen Hensor/Joe Zahar Classic, hosted by Oregon State University.
The Wildcats are looking to remain undefeated after opening the season with back-to-back wins over Louisville and Alabama A&M last weekend. UK has opened a season 3-0 only three other times in school history, the most recent coming in 2003.
?We?re excited about getting back out there,? Kentucky coach Ian Collins said. ?Last weekend, we had a pair of very tough games. I don?t expect anything different this weekend. Both Gonzaga and Oregon State have quality programs, and playing them on back-to-back days will be a challenge.?
To extend its winnings ways, Kentucky will continue to rely on its stout defense. The Wildcats did not allow a goal in either win over the Cardinals and Bulldogs last week. Including exhibition games, UK?s starting defenders, Thomas Senecal (Bethesda, Md./The Maret School), Brandon Stewart (Dallas, Texas/Creekview) and Nathan Li (Delta, British Columbia/White Rock Christian), and goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) have not been scored on this year in four games.
Dating back to last year, the Wildcats have not allowed more than one goal in a game in 19 straight outings, which is the longest such streak in school annals.
?Our defense has always been the staple of our team,? Collins said. ?We don?t give away a lot of chances. This year, we?ve got tremendous experience in the back and, I think, the best goalkeeper in the country. So, that?s an area of our team we?ll rely on.?
Offensively, Kentucky is a young team that will start as many as six freshmen and sophomores in the midfield and at forward. Leading the youthful group is junior Riley O?Neill (Campbell River, British Columbia/Tiberline), who tallied the winner against Louisville.
The Wildcats wrap up the tournament on Saturday by facing host Oregon State at 5:30 p.m. ET. It is the second time in three years UK has traveled to the pacific northwest. In 2003, the Wildcats dropped a pair of games in the Husky Invitational to Washington and Portland.
