UK Defeats Bowling Green For Second Consecutive Trip to NCAA Tournament
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team topped No. 1seeded Bowling Green, 1-0, to win its second-consecutive Mid-American ConferenceChampionship on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Mickey Cochrane Field on the campus of BowlingGreen State University. The victory gives UK an automatic berth into the NCAATournament.
In a tough, thrilling battle, the Cats (11-8-1) scored the match’s only goal in the 24thminute when freshman Brook Pearse blasted the ball past BGSU goalkeeper David DeGraffoff a long ball from freshman Chris Austin.
However, the Falcons (9-8-1) had the opportunity to tie the game with less than fiveminutes remaining in the first half when a handball in the box gave them a penalty kick.First-team All-MAC selection Adam Erhard set up for the kick and shot it toward the lowerright corner, but UK senior goalkeeper Brian O’Leary timed it perfectly to make thespectacular diving save.
“I give Bowling Green all the credit in the world,” head coach Ian Collins said. “It wasa very tough match, but I knew defense would win it. We attacked well, and our backshelped clear out. With such a young team, this is such a great win. We now look forwardto going to the NCAA Tournament and playing next week.”
UK outshot the Falcons 11-8 on the day, although BGSU held the 8-2 corner kickadvantage. O’Leary needed only three saves to earn his third shutout in as many gamesin the MAC Tournament bringing his season total to eight.
Four Cats earned All-Tournament team honors with their play the past week: juniorIlkka Jantti, senior Greg Bironas, sophomore J.D. Stephenson, and O’Leary.
UK will begin NCAA play next weekend against an opponent to be named during theNCAA selection show on Monday, Nov. 13.
AGATECollege Men's SoccerMid-American Conference Tournament Championship GameBowling Green, Ohio Att. 608
1 2 FBGSU 0 0 0Kentucky 1 0 1
Goals: UK Brook Pearse (Chris Austin) 23:48; BGSU noneShots: UK 11; BGSU 8Goalkeeper Saves: UK Brian O’Leary 3; BGSU David DeGraff 5Corner Kicks: UK 2; BGSU 8
