The Kentucky men?s soccer team got fall training underway on Tuesday morning when the team reported for a two-hour workout at the UK Soccer Complex.

?It?s great to be back out on the field and into training camp,? said head coach Ian Collins. ?We were able to get a look at all the players and see what we can do. It was fun to see everyone back.?

The practice was the first of just four that the team will have before seeing its first competition on Friday night, when it faces Michigan State in an exhibition game at Fort Wayne, Ind. The Wildcats will face second-ranked St. John?s on Sunday in a second and final exhibition.

?We?ll use these two days and the exhibition games to look at our players,? said Collins. ?We won?t really get into too much organizational stuff because we just want to give the guys a chance to play. I think it?ll be great for us to see two great teams and then come back and know what we need to work on.?

Buoyed by the return of leaders such as Jamal Shteiwi and Andy Gruenebaum, the team showed the promise that should help it contend for its fourth Mid-America Conference championship in five years.

?It helps a lot to have veterans back,? said Collins. ?Last year, we were uncertain at a lot of positions. We had to just put guys on the field and see what they could do. This year, we have guys that have experience and have trained hard over the summer and are motivated. So, that gives us a good nucleus to build the club around.?

For their first practice at the collegiate level, many of the newcomers displayed flashes of talent that will allow them to be contributors right away.

?I think the new guys are probably finishing practice realizing the speed of the game is quicker and the fitness they need is higher at this level,? noted Collins. ?I think we have some really good players who will develop into prominent players in our program. We also have one or two that are ready to play right now.?