LEXINGTON, KY — The Kentucky men?s soccer team will begin preparation for the 2004 season with 10 spring games, Coach Ian Collins announced Tuesday, March 9.

UK opens spring play Saturday, March 27 with matches against Xavier and Dayton in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Wildcats will play host to the Ottawa Fury on Friday, April 2, followed by tough road matches in Princeton, WV against Duquesne and Virginia Tech on April 4. The Dukes finished the season ranked No. 25 in the country in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings. The Hokies ended their 14-5-3 season with a 3-1 loss in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament to Creighton.

The Cats are also scheduled to face intrastate rival Louisville and IUPUI in Louisville on Wednesday, April 7. Kentucky takes on Notre Dame in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 17. The Fighting Irish also reached the Sweet 16 in 2003, before being eliminated by Michigan, 1-1 (4-3 on penalty kicks).

Kentucky returns home on Wednesday, April 21 to play host to Brescia College and Centre College to close out the spring season.

The soccer Cats are coming off a 12-7-2 season that ended with a 2-1 double overtime loss to Indiana, who went on to win the NCAA Championship, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

All home matches will be played at the UK Soccer Complex.

2004 Kentucky Men?s Soccer Spring Schedule

 March 27 ? Xavier ? at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH ? 12:30 p.m. March 27 ? Dayton ? at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH ? 1:45 p.m. April 2 ? Ottawa Fury ? LEXINGTON, KY ? 8 p.m. April 4 ? Duquesne ? Princeton, WV ? 9 a.m. April 4 ? Virinia Tech ? Princeton, WV ? 3:45 p.m. April 7 ? Louisville ? Louisville, KY ? 4 p.m. April 7 ? IUPUI ? Louisville, KY ? 6 p.m. April 17 ? Notre Dame ? Indianapolis, IN ? 7:45 p.m. April 21 ? Brescia ? LEXINGTON, KY ? 4:30 p.m. April 21 ? Centre College ? LEXINGTON, KY ? 8 p.m.