UK Mens Soccer Team Avenges Last Seasons Loss
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the other “football” game between theCats and the Cards, The University of Kentucky menssoccer team downed Louisville, 2-1, on Friday, Sept. 1,to claim the programs 100th triumph.
The historic win, that came in front of 2,413 cheering UK and U ofL fans, was in doubt for much of the game, until sophomore J.D.Stephenson blasted a shot past Cardinal goal keeper Jeremy Morales inthe 72nd minute to break a 1-1 tie. The shot came off a free kick thatStephenson took on the left of the net and dribbled past the defender.
The ball shot past the outstretched Morales, giving Stephenson thefourth goal of his career.
The Cardinals took the early lead at the 8:36 mark when MasonBarber got in a one-on-one situation with UK senior keeper BrianOLeary. OLeary came out to meet him but stumbled giving Barber theopen look. Although he gave up a goal, OLeary needed only four savesagainst 14 Cardinal shots to earn the win.
The Cats took nearly the rest of the first half to gain the equalizerwhen freshman Brook Pearse took a free kick from junior Ilkka Jantti inthe 43rd minute that floated over the defense. Pearse pulled the balldown with his footwork and dropped it past Morales for his first careergoal.
“We battled hard tonight,” head coach Ian Collins said. “We gaveaway a silly goal early in the game, but were able to dominate the restof the half. It was a great fight typical of a UK-UL game, but our guysfought through it and got the win.”
UK gets little rest before heading off to Asheville, N.C., to take onthe UNC-Asheville Bulldogs on Monday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m.
AGATEMens College Soccer (Exhibition)Louisville, Ky. Attendance 2,413
1 2 FLouisville 1 0 1Kentucky 1 1 2
Goals: UK Brook Pearse (Ilkka Jantti) 42:51, J.D. Stephenson(unassisted) 71:47; Lousiville Mason Barber (unassisted) 8:36. Shots: UK 8; Louisville 14 Goalkeeper Saves: UK Brian OLeary 4; Louisville Jeremy Morales 3Corner Kicks: UK 3; Louisville 3
