LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky rifle team opens the 2004-05 season on Saturday when it takes on Army at West Point, N.Y.

?I?ve been ready to go for about six months now,? said Kentucky coach Harry Mullins. ?Getting back into competition is the exciting part. You can really tell that the team is starting to get pumped up.?

The Wildcats, who have placed in the top three in the nation in seven of the past 10 years, are fielding a youthful squad this year. Kentucky will likely start at least two freshmen in the opener.

?The freshmen are new to the experience and don?t quite know what to expect,? Mullins said. ?But, once they step on the bus I think things will really begin to sink in for them. They?ve gotten off to a good start in training.

Despite the youth, the Wildcats are a talented bunch led by returning All-Americans Jeff Hamberg and Vicki Goss. However, the most important thing for Kentucky this weekend is to record score it can build on as the season progresses.

?Win or lose, we?re looking to post numbers that are good for us at this time of the year. I want our team to be progressively getting better,? Mullins said.

It is a tough opening meet for Kentucky as Army is a fellow Great American Rifle Conference member and one of the top programs in the nation.

?Army finished great last year and they had a very good recruiting class over the summer,? Mullins added. ?It should be a close, tightly contested match.?