LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team returns to action Sunday at 11 a.m. when it faces Western Michigan in the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Broncos are the tournament?s fourth seed and are serving as the host for the opening two rounds. They rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to win on penalty kicks in the first round against Marshall. The Wildcats received a first-round bye as the top seed after winning their fourth MAC title since 2000.
?It?s a big game,? Collins said. ?They?re unbeaten in a while so it?s going to be a very difficult game. I know they?ll be up for it and we have to come out and match their intensity and enthusiasm. Hopefully we?ll come out and play our best because we?ll have to if we want to win.?
Kentucky (11-4-3) and Western Michigan (8-6-4) met earlier in the year with the Wildcats scoring a 3-0 victory in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Sept. 12.
However, much has changed since the initial meeting. The Wildcats are now ranked 19th in the nation and unbeaten in their last five. Meanwhile, the Broncos have been playing exceptionally well lately, going unbeaten in their last 10 outings.
?It?s always tough to beat a team twice in the same year and they are playing well right now,? Collins said. ?Our guys are training very well and are very focused. I think they are paying better attention to detail and doing a lot of little things that are important. So, I?m looking for us to show well.?
The MAC Tournament has been tough on Kentucky in recent years. Last year the Wildcats were the top seed but were eliminated by Bowling Green, 1-0, in the semifinals. In the game, Kentucky had a man sent off in the 25th minute.
?There is absolutely added motivation because of last year,? said Collins. ?It?s always difficult to play the home team, which we?ve done the last two years and haven?t been able to get through.?
It was the second straight year the Wildcats have failed to reach the final after winning three straight tournament championships from 1999-2001.
With a win Sunday, Kentucky would host the MAC Tournament championship game on Friday, Nov. 12 at the UK Soccer Complex.
