KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The 25th-ranked University of Kentucky men’s soccer team got back on the winning track with a 3-1 victory at Western Michigan on Friday, Sept. 21. The win is UK’s fifth consecutive in Mid-American Conference openers and ninth straight against the Broncos.

The Wildcats (3-2-1, 1-0-0 MAC) jumped on top with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half when J.D. Stephenson tallied his first goal of the year on a penalty kick. Marc Theriault got past the defense and was tackled hard from behind in the box by WMU’s Scott Duhl to set up the PK.

Antti Peltonen put UK ahead for good in the 60th minute when he finished a John Monebrake pass, beating Bronco goalkeeper Ian Spooner to the right. Stephenson then made it 3-0 on another penalty kick, this time after Nathan Fleetwood was taken down by Spooner in the box on a one-on-one.

At the 82:02 mark, the Broncos (1-3-0, 0-1-0 MAC) escaped the shutout when Eli Elias beat UK keeper Brad Samelko with a blast from the top of the box. However, Samelko did make a career-high nine saves on the evening while facing 15 shots.

“This wasn’t a pretty game,” Coach Ian Collins said, “but it was the first MAC game for both teams. We were very emotional and very happy to come away with the win.”

The Cats return to action on Sunday, Sept. 23, when they travel to Dekalb, Ill., to face Northern Illinois. Action gets underway at noon.

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Attendance: 175
Scoring: Kentucky – J.D. Stephenson (penalty kick) 35:23, Antti Peltonen (John Monebrake) 59:32, J.D. Stephenson (penalty kick) 69:59, Western Michigan – Eli Elias (unassisted) 82:02
Shots: Kentucky 10, Western Michigan 15
Corner Kicks: Kentucky 2, Western Michigan 3
Goalkeeper Saves: Kentucky – Brad Samelko 9, Western Michigan – Ian Spooner 3