MAC Semifinals Notes
AKRON, Ohio – The No. 1-seed University of Kentucky men’s soccer team opens Mid-American Conference Tournament play in the semifinals against fifth-seeded Bowling Green on Sunday, Nov. 11. This marks the first time UK has held the top seed in the league tourney, which gave the Cats a bye into the semis, and action is slated for noon ET at Lee Jackson Field on the campus of the University of Akron.
“This is going to be a very tough game,” Coach Ian Collins said. “It is becoming a very good rivalry, and we are going to have to play our best to move into the championship game next week.”
The Cats (11-5-1, 6-0-0 MAC) enter the semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Akron last weekend made them just the third team in MAC history to sweep regular-season play. With the win, UK jumped to No. 4 in the Great Lakes Region Poll and No. 26 in the College Soccer News national poll. The regular-season crown is the school’s second straight and first outright. In 2000, the Cats shared the title with Akron, Bowling Green and Marshall.
Kentucky has an 11-4-0 record in the last six tournaments and has advanced to at least the semifinals each year. The Wildcats won the title at home in 1999 to earn the program its first MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth before repeating in 2000.
John Monebrake, whose 19 points and eight goals lead UK, returns to the lineup after sitting out the Akron contest for receiving a red card at FIU. He netted at least one goal in three of five league contests this season. Chris Soler is second on the team with six goals, while Ilkka Jantti, Antti Peltonen and J.D. Stephenson have scored four goals each. Brian Mitts is tied with Jantti and Peltonen for the team lead in assists with five.
Greg Raber has seen action for UK in eight matches this season, collecting 19 saves and four shutouts. The transfer from UNC Greensboro has surrendered just four goals this season for a 0.50 goals-against average, and Kentucky is 7-1-0 since Raber entered the lineup.
Bowling Green (8-7-1, 2-4-0 MAC) advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 triple-overtime win over fourth-seeded Buffalo on Friday. The Falcons are led by Detrick Matthews who has 13 points on six goals and one assist. Matt Leardini is second on the team with three goals and six points, while Tony Malik and Tim Butler have two goals each.
David DeGraff has played every minute between the pipes this season for the Falcons. DeGraff has collected 72 saves while surrendering 17 goals for a 1.07 GAA.
The Wildcats and Falcons have met 13 times with the series knotted at 6-6-1. UK earned the equalizing victory on Oct. 5 with a 3-1 decision at BG. Monebrake led the way with two goals in a three and a half minute span, while Raber became the first goalkeeper in Kentucky history to tally an assist.
Of the teams’ 12 meetings, five have come in the MAC Tournament. Bowling Green won the first four before Kentucky broke through the Falcon barrier last season to claim its second championship.
