LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky rifle team opens its 2004-05 home slate on Saturday when it welcomes Ohio State to Lexington.

The Wildcats are coming off a tough loss to Army last weekend in the season opener at West Point, N.Y.

?I hope we have a little bit better numbers than we had against Army,? said coach Harry Mullins. ?I think we?ll be able to do that because training has been going very well this week. Having the comforts of home should also help get us back on track to go the direction we want.?

Freshman Ray Geyer led the way for Kentucky against the Black Knights in his first collegiate competition with a 570 smallbore and 586 air rifle.

Another freshman, Chris Boggs, shot individually at Army and was outstanding with personal bests in both categories. He will likely move into the starting lineup for Saturday?s match with the Buckeyes.

?Everybody has been working very hard this week and I wouldn?t be surprised to see another personal best like Boggs had,? Mullins said. ?We?re going to give him a chance shoot with the first team and see how he can handle the additional pressure.?

The match, a non-conference contest, is sandwiched in between a pair of tough Great American Rifle Conference matches against Army and Ole Miss.

?We look at it a little differently because it?s not a conference match,? Mullins said. ?We can give some other people an opportunity to prove themselves against a quality team. Ohio State is a big-name school.?