The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team will face Bowling Green in acritical Mid-American Conference contest on Friday, Oct. 20. A win keeps the Cats incontention for their first MAC regular season title. Action gets underway at 8 p.m. atthe UK Soccer Complex.
UK (7-5-0, 3-1-0 MAC) is coming off of a rare mid-week game on Wednesday inwhich they were defeated 2-0 by the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. The Cats are ledin scoring by Chris McDaniel who has notched a team-leading three goals on theseason. His seven points are tied with senior Giovani Fernandes and freshman ChrisChi Chi Soler, both of whom have tallied two goals and three assists.
Also giving the Cats support are junior Ilkka Jantti and senior Ryan Grady. Eachhas two goals on the season, while Jantti is just ahead of Grady in assists, 2-1.
The UK attack is very balanced, as six Wildcats have notched at least two goalsthis season, with 11 players accounting for the team’s 18 goals. Twelve playersaccount for UK’s 20 assists.
In 10 games this season, senior goalkeeper Brian O’Leary has faced 94 shots,giving up only 10 goals and tallying 24 saves for a 0.90 goals-against average. He hasnotched five shutouts this season bringing his career total to 18, and his GAA is alsoon target to be the best of his career, topping his 1999 mark of 0.96.
Bowling Green (6-6-0, 2-1-0 MAC) enters this match on a three-game winningstreak, including shut-out victories over league opponents Western Michigan (2-0) andMarshall (1-0). The Falcons are led in scoring by senior Matt Lyons with 12 points(three goals and six assists). Senior Fred Degand leads the team in goals with 4,while senior Adam Erhard’s seven assists are tops.
In goal, freshman Dave DeGraff has played every minute for BG. He has faced 77shots, making a conference leading 62 saves with only 15 goals. His 1.25goals-against average is good for fifth in the MAC, and he has notched three shutoutson the season.
Leading up to the highly-contested MAC rivalry will be a match between UK’swomen’s soccer team and the LSU Tigers. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m at the UKSoccer Complex.
