Cats Win Second Consecutive MAC Contest, Take Over Sole Possession of First Place
Dominating from the opening kickoff, the University of Kentucky mens soccer team downedvisiting Northern Illinois, 4-0, on Sunday, Oct. 1. The win gives UK sole possession of firstplace in the Mid-American Conference standings.
The Cats (6-4-0, 2-0-0 MAC) took control early when senior Giovani Fernandes took aRyan Grady pass and blasted the ball past the NIU goalkeeper at the 16:49 mark for the onlygoal UK would need. The goal was Fernandes second of the season, giving Grady his firstassist in 2000.
“We played some good soccer today,” head coach Ian Collins said. “We played with a lotmore energy, enthusiasm and passion. We not only created more chances, we capitalized onthem. A couple of our goals were unbelievable, and our strikers are becoming even betterdefenders, giving us better offensive opportunities. This game puts us in a really good positiongoing into Fridays match with Akron.”
Freshman Logan LeCompte, in only his fourth game as a Cat, had a coming out party, scoringhis first two collegiate goals at 43:00 and 82:27. Freshman Chris Soler assisted the firstLeCompte goal before scoring his own in the 46th minute, giving him his second of the season.Seniors Brent Rainey and Greg Bironas also notched assists in the lopsided effort.
The Huskies (4-6-0, 1-1-0 MAC) could never keep control of the ball or get in positionfor offensive chances. They were outshot 22-4 and had only one corner kick to UKs nine.
Senior Brian OLeary continued his strong showing in goal for the Cats. He needed onlytwo saves to notch his third consecutive shutout and fourth of the season. It was his second in asmany conference games. The best chance the Huskies had to put the ball into the net came fromAlex DOrsi, who blasted a shot toward the upper right corner of the goal. However, OLearytimed it perfectly, diving for the save. OLeary now has kept the UK goal empty for 298consecutive minutes.
UK now prepares to travel to Ohio to face MAC nemesis Akron on Friday, Oct. 6.Action gets under way at 7:15 p.m. EST. The Zips and Cats were preseason picks to finish 1-2 in the MAC, and every season they viefor first-place honors. Akron has had its ups and downs this season with a big win overthen-No. 2 Penn State but fell on Sunday to Marshall.
AGATE:Mens College SoccerLexington, Ky. Attendance 538
1 2 FNIU 0 0 0Kentucky 2 2 4
Goals: UK Giovani Fernandes (Ryan Grady) 16:49, Logan LeCompte (Chris Soler) 43:00, Chris Soler (Greg Bironas) 45:40, Logan LeCompte (Brent Rainey) 82:27; NIU none Shots: UK 22; NIU 4Goalkeeper Saves: UK 2; NIU 5Corner Kicks: UK 9; NIU 1
