Oct. 10, 2003
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Kentucky men’s soccer team (7-3-1) dropped UNC Greensboro (5-3-2), 3-1, in its first match at the adidas/Spartan Classic in Greensboro, N.C.
Junior Ollie Lehtimaki sealed the match for the Cats with a goal in the 64th minute off a cross pass from Christopher Lefferts. The Hameenlinna, Finland, native beat a UNC Greensboro defender one-on-one from five yards out on the right-side for his second goal of the season.
Kentucky struck first when sophomore Brandon Stewart beat UNC Greensboro goalkeeper Joe Crump from 12 yards out on the right side just 4:39 into the game. Stewart’s goal marked the second consecutive game the Wildcats have scored in the first five minutes of action.
UNC Greensboro responded with a goal of its own at the 18:09 mark by Randi Petterson, assisted by Doug Prewett and Adrian Worthen. The Spartans and Wildcats went into the half tied 1-1 with Kentucky holding a 9-4 shot advantage.
In addition to Lehtimaki’s game-winner, the Wildcats added an assurance goal by freshman Riley O’Neill off a corner kick by junior Jamal Shteiwi. O’Neill’s goal was his fourth in three games and he becomes the 11th player in Kentucky history to score a goal in three consecutive games.
The Wildcats are back in action, Sunday, when they face No. 3 North Carolina (9-1-2) in its second game of the Spartan Classic. The Tar Heels blanked Mercer in the first match of the Spartan Classic, 5-0. Carolina defeated the Cats in their only previous meeting, 2-1, at the Nike Carolina Classic in 2000.
