LEXINGTON ? Jamal Shteiwi tallied Kentucky?s first hat trick since the 2001 season to carry the Kentucky men?s soccer team to a 5-1 victory over Mid-America Conference foe Bowling Green on Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.

The win moved Kentucky to 8-4-2 overall and 4-1 in the league. Bowling Green fell to 0-15 overall and 0-5 in conference action.

Shteiwi got started in the 20th minute when made a brilliant 50-yard run right down the heart of the field before beating Tyler Dollins from 15 yards out to knot the game at 1-1.

After going into the half tied, Kentucky took over offensively in the second frame. In the 47th minute, Michael D?Agostino had a goal taken away by defenseman Matt Yanick who committed a handball on the goal line. Yanick was immediately sent off with a red card.

The play earned a penalty kick for the Wildcats, which Shteiwi calmly put away for a 2-1 lead.

Eight minutes later, Michael Strong drew a penalty in the box as he got behind the defense. Again, Shteiwi put the ball just inside the left post for his third goal. It was his first career hat trick and just the fifth in school history. Friday also marked his third multi-goal game of the year.

Strong eventually found the back of the net in the 57th minute when he bent a shot inside the right post from just inside the left side of the box. It was the third goal of the year for the freshman.

Andrew Alexander rounded out the scoring with his second career goal when he put back a Matt Baum rebound.

Bowling Green jumped out to an early lead in the sixth minute when a defensive miscommunication led to Jordan Koblens? shot bouncing in off a Wildcat defender. Kentucky won for the second time this year despite not scoring first.

The Wildcats return to action Sunday when it faces Alabama A&M at 2:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex. It will be Senior Day as Kentucky will honor its eight seniors prior to kickoff.