Oct. 5, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Kentucky (6-3-1) struck early and often in its first Mid-American Conference game of the season against Bowling Green State (3-5-2). Four minutes into the game, freshman Nathan Li received a pass from Joey Gaworecki and found the net from 18 yards out for the Wildcats’ first goal of the game and the first of his career to initiate Kentucky’s 3-0 win over the Falcons.
The Cats played stingy defense all afternoon and only allowed three shots in the first half and eight in the entire game. Kentucky’s 20-8 shot advantage is the largest since the opening game of the season against UNC Asheville when UK out shot the Bulldogs 20-5.
“Andy (Gruenebaum) made a couple of great saves like he has all year,” said Kentucky back Chris Austin. “The back four worked well together and did what we needed to do on defense and our forwards put a lot of pressure on them all game.”
Kentucky’s second goal came 40:43 into the game when junior Jamal Shteiwi crossed the ball from the right side of the box and sophomore Adam Walker found freshman Riley O’Neill for the score from five yards out. O’Neill, a Campbell River, British Columbia native, scored his third goal in two games.
The freshman recorded his first collegiate assist in the second half against the Falcons when his pass found Shteiwi on the right side of the box for Kentucky’s third and final score of the game in the 73rd minute of play.
“We have been a little up and down all season, but finally we put 90 minutes together,” said head coach Ian Collins. “We dominated defensively … and we scored some great goals against a tough team. Our players are starting to learn what we’re looking for and understanding the value of hard work. Our work rate was immense.”
Kentucky goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum picked up his fourth shutout of the season and recorded four saves in the game.
UK returns to action Friday, Oct. 10 against UNC Greensboro at the Spartan Classic in Greensboro, N.C.
