Oct. 3, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Riley O’Neill showed up to UK’s (5-3-1) match against Appalachian State (3-6-1) with a new haircut and a nose for the ball. The freshman from Campbell River, British Columbia scored the first two goals of his collegiate career to lift the Wildcats over the Mountaineers, 2-1, at the UK Soccer Complex.
“Winning this game really released a lot of pressure from this team,” O’Neill said. “We needed a win and I’m glad I could contribute to it.”
O’Neill scored the game’s first goal 37 minutes into the game off a rebound from sophomore Thomas Senecal’s shot attempt. The score gave Kentucky a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
The Canadian freshman scored what proved to be the game winner 63:21 into the game when he fired his second goal past Appalachian State goalkeeper Philip Caviocchia off junior transfer Christopher Lefferts’ cross from the left side.
Appalachian State quickly answered O’Neill’s second score with a goal of its own in the 67th minute when Frederick Henricksen headed in a rebound from five yards out off Carter Parrish’s attempt. However, the Mountaineers were unable to get close the rest of the game as the Wildcat defense turned up the pressure and controlled the ball for a majority of the remainder of the game.
Head coach Ian Collins was pleased with the win as the Cats get set to open Mid-American Conference play Sunday at Bowling Green State University.
“Sunday’s game is going to be a real battle and it was good to get back in the win column tonight,” Collins said. “We played well and had a lot of chances that we didn’t finish, but our attack was dangerous the entire game.”
Kentucky out-shot the Mountaineers 18-6 in the game.
