Oct. 23, 2003
Senior Profile: Steven McLay | Senior Profile: Chris Austin
Senior Profile: Craig Pykett | Senior Profile: Brook Pearse
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky will honor four men’s soccer players who will play in their final home regular season match this Friday against Buffalo at 7:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex. Chris Austin, Steven McLay, Brook Pearse and Craig Pykett will be honored in a ceremony prior to the match in recognition of “Senior Night”.
UK will then put its undefeated Mid-American Conference record on the line when it takes on the Buffalo Bulls (1-9-3, 0-4-0 MAC). Buffalo has struggled this season. The Bulls have lost their last six games and only managed one win in 2003. UB dropped its last match ,1-0, to Marshall on Oct. 12. Kentucky holds a 5-1 advantage over Buffalo in the all-time series. The Wildcats defeated the Bulls, 4-1, in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament last season.
The Wildcats travel to Huntington, W.Va., Sunday to face Marshall (4-10-0, 1-3-0 MAC) in another conference match. Marshall is 4-10-0 on the season and lost its last match to VMI, 2-0, Oct. 18. Kentucky is 8-4-1 against the Thundering Herd.
The Cats picked up two conference victories last weekend against Western Michigan and No. 12 Akron. UK scored three first half goals to breeze past the Broncos, 3-0, on Friday. Kentucky then blanked the Zips, 1-0, on Sunday in a game where the Cats outs shot Akron 11-4. Kentucky has not relinquished a goal in three Mid-American Conference games this season.
Game Notes
Gruenebuam and Austin Recognized by National Publications – Andy Gruebaum was named to the College Soccer News “National Team of the Week” and MAC Player of the Week for his performances against Western Michigan and then 12th-ranked Akron last weekend. Chris Austin was named to the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week for his efforts against the Broncos and Zips as well.
Kentucky In The National Rankings – Junior Jamal Shteiwi is tied for 10th in the NCAA in assists per game (0.71). Andy Gruenebaum is No. 26 in the country in goals against average (0.763) and the team is ranked 21st in the same category.
Shteiwi Sets School Assist Record – Shteiwi set a new Kentucky single-season record for assists when he picked up his 10th assist of the season in UK’s 3-0 win over Western Michigan. Shteiwi’s 14 career assists ties him for second all-time at Kentucky. Brian Dausman currently holds career assist record of 22.
Stewart Named adidas/Spartan Classic Defensive MVP – Sophomore Brandon Stewart was named Defensive MVP at the adidas/Spartan Classic in Greensboro, N.C. The Dallas native, scored Kentucky’s first goal in its 3-1 win over UNC Greensboro in the first five minutes of the game. He also played solid defense against No. 3 North Carolina in the Cats’ 2-1 loss.
