Oct. 18, 2002

The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team will attempt to open its Mid-American Conference schedule for the second time this season when it plays host to Marshall at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at the UK Soccer Complex. The Wildcats (7-5-0), whose league match against Bowling Green was canceled three weeks ago due to Hurricane Isidore, are the only MAC team that has not played a conference game.

The Thundering Herd (5-7-0, 1-1 MAC) is making its second trip to the Bluegrass, after participating in the UK/Traditional Bank Invitational earlier this fall. Marshall went 0-2 that weekend, falling to Coastal Carolina and Cleveland State en route to a fourth-place finish in the tournament.

Kentucky has an 8-3-1 edge in the all-time series. The Cats are 5-1 against the Herd since Marshall joined the MAC in 1997, and have won five of six matches played in Lexington. Marshall has never won at the UK Soccer Complex in three trips since it opened in 1996.

Last season, the Cats shutout Marshall 3-0, scoring all three goals in the second half. Senior John Monebrake is the only returning player to have scored in that match, which was the third shutout of goalkeeper Greg Raber’s UK career.

Kentucky has won 11 straight Mid-American Conference matches, dating back to the beginning of the 2000 conference tournament. The Wildcats have captured the past three MAC Tournament Championships, while also winning two consecutive regular-season crowns.

UK’s final five matches of the regular season will be against league competition. On Sunday, Oct. 20, the Cats travel to Buffalo, N.Y., to face the Bulls at 2 p.m. They will finish the season by hosting Northern Illinois and traveling to Western Michigan and Akron.