Chris Austin Senior Profile

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team (9-4-1, 3-0-0 MAC) continues to garner team and individual recognition for its play this season.

The Wildcats rank 21st in the country as a team with a 0.76 goals against average according to the latest NCAA statistics thru games played on or before Oct. 19. Sophomore goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum is 26th in the NCAA in the same category. Gruenebaum has played every minute in goal for Kentucky this season and recorded six shutouts thus far.

Junior midfielder Jamal Shteiwi is ranked No. 10 in the NCAA in assists per game (0.71). The Cincinnati native has 10 assists this season, which is a Kentucky record for a single season. He is currently tied with Sean Endicott (1995-96) and Sean Mondelli (1995-97) for the second most career assists (14) in UK history. Shteiwi needs nine assists to break Brian Dausman’s (1992-95) all-time record of 22 career assists as a Wildcat.

Kentucky has amassed a 9-4-1 record despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Wildcats are 2-3-0 against opponents who have been ranked in the top-25 according to Soccer Times, College Soccer News, Soccer America or the adidas/NSCAA polls at some point this season.

UK handed Cincinnati its first loss of the season, 1-0, on Sept. 11. The No. 19 Bearcats record is 7-1-1 since losing to Kentucky.

This past Sunday, the Cats dropped then No. 12-ranked Akron, 1-0, to remain undefeated in conference play. The Wildcats ended Akron goalkeeper Justin Christafaris’ 283 minute scoreless streak.

The Wildcats also played tough matches against No. 3 North Carolina, No. 22 Washington and Portland, who was No. 22 in the NSCAA preseason poll.

Kentucky has four games remaining on its regular season schedule including a trip to No. 23-ranked Indiana for its final regular season game on Nov. 2. The Wildcats defeated the Hoosiers, 2-1, in a preseason match at the IPFW Showcase. The Hoosiers were No. 7 in the NCAA at the time.