Aug. 13, 2002

The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s soccer teams will begin the 2002 season Wednesday morning when practice officially opens for the two nationally ranked programs. All-America forward Keri Boyce returns for her senior campaign to lead the women, while on the men’s side, Greg Raber, the 2001 NCAA goals against average statistical champion, returns between the pipes for his final season at UK.

The UK women’s team will hold its first practices from 9-11 a.m. and 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14. Two-a-days will continue through Wednesday, Aug. 21. The men’s first practice will be from 3:15-5:15 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Their practices will continue daily at this time and from 7-9 a.m., through Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Media members interested in interviewing players and/or coaches are asked to call the UK Media Relations Department in advance of attending practice. The best time to reach players is at the end of each practice session.

Coach Collins’ men’s squad is coming off a successful 2001 campaign in which it earned its second straight Mid-American Conference regular season title and third consecutive MAC Tournament championship. The Wildcats ended the season with a record of 14-6-1, including an undefeated run in conference action and a NCAA Tournament victory. Junior Nathan Fleetwood, a national Player-of-the-Year candidate in 2002, and senior John Monebrake, UK’s leading scorer in 2001, joins Raber as returning first-team All-MAC selections from a year ago.

Climbing as high as No. 10, the UK women’s team finished the 2001 season at 12-8-1 and earned its fifth berth to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Warren Lipka, the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches, welcomes the return of All-SEC forward Elizabeth Ramsey in his 11th season. Ramsey suffered an ACL injury last spring and was forced to redshirt in 2001. Boyce and Ramsey represent one of the most potent scoring duos in the country, combining for 43 goals, 40 assists and 126 points.