The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team welcomes Mid-American Conference-rival Marshall to the UK Soccer Complex on Sunday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
The Cats (8-4-1, 4-0-0 MAC) are on a four-game win streak after dominating Georgetown College, 7-0, on Wednesday and enter this important match undefeated in the league. UK has outscored its conference opponents 13-3, netting at least three goals in each contest, and is tied for first place with Akron.
John Monebrake, this week’s MAC Player of the Week, leads Kentucky’s offense with seven goals and three assists for 17 points. Chris Soler quickly moved into second on the team in goals with five after a school-record four-goal performance against GC, while J.D. Stephenson has contributed four to the Cats’ cause this season. Nathan Fleetwood, Ilkka Jantti and Antti Peltonen follow with three goals each.
In goal, Greg Raber replaced Brad Samelko on Oct. 5 and has collected seven saves and two shutouts in four games, while surrendering just two goals for a 0.50 goals-against average. Samelko also has played well between the pipes for UK, seeing 876 minutes of action. He has made 42 saves, earned two shutouts and conceded just 10 goals for a 1.03 GAA.
The Thundering Herd (8-4-0, 3-2-0 MAC) started the season well, running out to an 8-1-0 start but has stumbled of late, losing three of its last four including two conference games. Byron Carmichael, the 2000 MAC Player of the Year, again leads the way for MU with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists. However, Carmichael has not shown the same offensive power in MAC play. In five league games, he has only netted one goal and assisted on two others.
Marshall and Kentucky have met 11 times since their first meeting in 1991, with UK holding the 7-3-1 advantage. MU topped UK, 4-0, during the 2000 regular season, but in the MAC Tournament semifinals, the Cats got revenge with a 1-0 victory en route to their second consecutive MAC crown and NCAA Tournament berth.
