Aug. 13, 2002

The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s soccer teams will begin the2002 season Wednesday morning when practice officially opens for the twonationally ranked programs. All-America forward Keri Boyce returns for hersenior campaign to lead the women, while on the men’s side, Greg Raber, the2001 NCAA goals against average statistical champion, returns between thepipes for his final season at UK.

The UK women’s team will hold its first practices from 9-11 a.m. and 7-9p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14. Two-a-days will continue through Wednesday, Aug.21. The men’s first practice will be from 3:15-5:15 p.m., on Wednesday,Aug. 14. Their practices will continue daily at this time and from 7-9a.m., through Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Coach Collins’ men’s squad is coming off a successful 2001 campaign inwhich it earned its second straight Mid-American Conference regular seasontitle and third consecutive MAC Tournament championship. The Wildcatsended the season with a record of 14-6-1, including an undefeated run inconference action and a NCAA Tournament victory. Junior Nathan Fleetwood,a national Player-of-the-Year candidate in 2002, and senior John Monebrake,UK’s leading scorer in 2001, joins Raber as returning first-team All-MACselections from a year ago.

Climbing as high as No. 10, the UK women’s team finished the 2001 season at12-8-1 and earned its fifth berth to the NCAA Tournament. Coach WarrenLipka, the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches, welcomes the return ofAll-SEC forward Elizabeth Ramsey in his 11th season. Ramsey suffered an ACLinjury last spring and was forced to redshirt in 2001. Boyce and Ramseyrepresent one of the most potent scoring duos in the country, combining for43 goals, 40 assists and 126 points.