Sept. 2, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team heads west for its seasonopener on Friday, Sept. 3, as the Cats travel to Las Vegas to face UC SantaBarbara in the UNLV Rebel Classic.

The Cats, who won 12 of their final 16 matches to close out 1998, return10 starters from last season’s Mid-American Conference runner-up squad andwill look to claim the program’s first NCAA tournament berth in 1999.

“Our guys are ready to play a real match,” UK Coach Ian Collins said. “Westill have a lot of work to do, but there’s only so much you can learn inintra-squad scrimmages. We’ve worked hard in the preseason and I’m lookingforward to see how we do against another team.”

UCSB went 2-17-1 in 1998, but opened their 1999 slate with a 2-0 win overCal Poly St. on Wednesday night.

The match, which is scheduled to kick off at midnight ET, will be thefirst-ever meeting between the Cats and Gauchos.