The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team welcomes the two-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers to the UK Soccer Complex for a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. IU leads the all-time series 7-1-0, with UK’s lone victory coming in 1995.
The Cats (7-5-0, 3-1-0 Mid-American Conference) are led by sophomore Chris McDaniel. McDaniel has notched a team-leading three goals on the season, including two game winners (against UNC Asheville and Buffalo). His seven points are tied with senior Giovani Fernandes and freshman Chris “Chi Chi” Soler. Fernandes, who has started in all 12 of UK’s contests in 2000, and Soler have notched two goals and three assists each.
Junior Ilkka Jantti is not far behind with six points. Jantti has scored two goals and assisted two others. One of those goals was the game-winner in a 3-2 triumph over IUPUI, and he assisted UK’s lone goal against MAC-rival Buffalo.
Since moving up to the front line, senior Ryan Grady has improved on his point total from 1999 and is one point shy of his career high of six points in 1998. He has accumulated five points on two goals and one assist in 2000.
The UK attack is very balanced, as six Wildcats have notched at least two goals this season, with 11 players accounting for the team’s 18 goals. Tied with Fernandes and Soler in the team assist lead is senior Brent Rainey, with three assists. Twelve players account for UK’s 20 assists.
Between the pipes, senior Brian O’Leary reigns. In 10 games this season, he has faced 81 shots, giving up only eight goals and tallying 22 saves for a 0.80 goals-against average, which is good for first in the MAC. He has notched five shutouts this season bringing his career total to 18. His GAA is also on target to be the best of his career, topping his 1999 mark of 0.96.
The Hoosiers (11-3-0) enter the match riding an eight-game win streak after losing three of their first six games. They are led by a trio of preseason All-Americans: Ryan Mack and T.J. Hannig (first-team), along with Matt Fundenberger (honorable mention). Fundenberger leads the team in points with 20 and goals with nine, while Mack has accumulated 19 points on five goals and nine assists. The IU goal has been under the protection of Hannig much of the season collecting 21 saves, while giving up 11 goals in nine games.
The last meeting between these two teams came in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, UK’s first-ever berth. The Cats held No. 2 IU scoreless through regulation; however, their attack was weakened with less than six minutes left in regulation when Jason Bell left the game with his second yellow card. The Wildcat defense then suffered a similar loss when back Rob Frey exited the match with a leg injury in the second overtime. Then, in the 113th minute, IU All-American Aleksey Korol slipped a 2-yard shot into the goal for the 1-0 win.
A number of promotions have been scheduled for game night:
A tailgate party will begin in the parking lot of the UK Soccer Complex at 5:30 p.m. UK will be selling a variety of food items and the first 1,000 fans will receive free Seven-Up and Seven-Up prizes from Pepsi Cola.
The first 1,200 fans will receive rally towels “UK Soccer Beat Indiana.”
At halftime, a contest entitled “The Halftime Shootout” will be held with the winner walking away with the use of a brand new automobile from Daewoo for one year, courtesy of Toyota on Nicholasville.
The goal has been set to break the UK Soccer Complex attendance record that was set on Oct. 10, 1997, when 3,003 fans packed the stands to watch the Cats defeat Bowling Green, 2-1.
