The Wildcats look to make their third NCAA appearance in four seasons.
The Kentucky men?s soccer team put together an impressive 2003 campaign on the way to a 12-6-1 record that included nine shutouts. Head Coach Ian Collins and the Wildcats hope the NCAA takes notice and offers the regular season Mid-American Conference champions an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament which begins Nov. 21. The NCAA field of 48 teams will be announced Monday, Nov. 17 at 4:00 p.m. live on ESPNEWS.
Kentucky is currently ranked seventh in the latest NSCAA Great Lakes Region poll and received votes for the Soccer Times top-25 and College Soccer News top-30 polls. UK ranks ninth as a team among NCAA Division I programs with a 0.67 goals against average and 18th in shutout percentage (0.47).
The Wildcats faced a grueling schedule this season playing only seven of its 19 games at the UK Soccer Complex in Lexington, Ky. Five of Kentucky?s matches were against current top-25 opponents with only one of them, a 1-0 defeat over then No. 12 Akron, at home.
In mid-September, Kentucky began a stretch of five games in 10 days with a 1-0 win over Cincinnati (who is No. 17 in the latest Soccer America poll), followed by victories over Louisville and Western Kentucky, two teams who are currently ranked in the NSCAA Great Lakes and Midwest regions, respectively. In fact, 10 of the 12 Kentucky non-conference opponents have been ranked in their respective regions top-10 polls at some point this season. UK?s non-conference opponents have a combined record of 119-71-30.
Kentucky is 2-3 against current top-25 teams and the Cats were competitive in all five matches. On Oct. 12, then No. 3 North Carolina scored its second goal on a penalty kick and UK had a goal waived off in the final five minutes that would have tied the game as UNC edged UK, 2-1. Also, the Cats played without defensive starters Craig Pykett and Thomas Senecal against No. 11 Indiana in a 1-0 defeat in the final game of the regular season. Kentucky defeated then No. 7 Indiana, 2-1, in a preseason match at the IPFW Soccer Showcase.
In addition to facing stiff non-conference competition, UK posted an undefeated 6-0-0 conference record for the second time in three seasons. More impressively, Kentucky did not allow a goal in six regular season conference matches, the first ever MAC team to do so. Also, the Wildcats played with a man down in the final 65 minutes of their match against Bowling Green State in the semifinals of the MAC tournament and still did not relinquish a goal until three minutes remaining in the contest.
Below is a synopsis of Kentucky?s season highlights:
Kentucky Soccer Highlights
12-6-1 overall record, 6-0-0 Mid-American Conference record in the regular season
Kentucky finished the season 7-3-0 in its final 10 games, 7-2-0 on the road for the year
UK recorded nine shutouts on the season
The Wildcats went 8-3-0 vs. Great Lakes Region opponents
Kentucky is ranked 9th among NCAA Division I programs in team goals against average (0.67) and 18 in shutout percentage (0.47)
Kentucky was ranked No. 24 in the Soccer America poll Oct. 27-Nov. 2
The Cats were ranked No. 28 in the College Soccer News poll two consecutive weeks Oct. 27 and Nov. 3
UK has outscored its opponents 27-13 on the season
Consistently ranked in the NSCAA Great Lakes top-10, ranked 7th in the latest poll
Difficult Schedule
Opponents have a combined record of 161-126-44 (.553)
Kentucky non-conference opponents are 119-71-30 (.609)
UNC Asheville and Appalachian State are the only Kentucky non-conference opponents who have not been ranked in the top-10 of their region at some point this season.
Went 3-1-1 during a five games in 10 days stretch between Sept. 11 ? 21
Kentucky faced then No. 11 Indiana on the road without two defensive starters who were out with injury and fell 1-0 in a competitive match
In the MAC tournament, UK played 65 minutes of its match with BGSU down one man, a defensive starter, and did not give up a goal until the 87th minute
UK has faced five teams who are currently ranked in one of the four national polls.
Individual Accolades
Jamal Shteiwi is 10th in the NCAA in assist per game average (0.63)
Andy Gruenebaum is 13th among goalkeepers with a 0.67 goals against average
Shteiwi led the MAC in assists (12) and set a new Kentucky single-season record in the same category
Kentucky players received Player of the Week honors in five of the 10 weeks the award was given in the MAC
Andy Gruenebaum was named to the College Soccer News ?National Team of the Week? Oct. 12-18
Chris Austin was named to Soccer America Men?s Team of the Week Oct. 12-18
Brandon Stewart named adidas/Spartan Classic Defensive MVP
Mid-American Conference Dominance
Went 6-0-0 in conference play for the second time in three years and won the regular season title for the third time in four years
Became the first ever MAC team to complete regular season conference play without giving up a goal
