The University of Kentucky Athletics Department and University community as a whole is excited to host its first NCAA Division I Men?s Soccer Championships game this Saturday when the Wildcats (12-6-1) take the field against the Cincinnati Bearcats (10-4-5) at 7:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex.
UK and UC are both reigning regular season champions of the Mid-American Conference and Conference USA, respectively, and the Cats defeated the Bearcats, 1-0, in a match earlier this season.
UKAthletics.com visited a recent Kentucky practice to talk to players about their upcoming match and the excitement of hosting an NCAA Tournament game.
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Jamal Shteiwi, Jr. Midfielder ? ?It?s pretty incredible. I have been very nervous the past week or so. I can?t really explain it because it?s such a great feeling. We are the first team ever to host a game here in Lexington. I think the home field is going to be an advantage, but it will be a good game. Cincinnati is a tough team so we?ll see.? |
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Chris Austin, Sr. Defender ? ?It?s unbelievable. It?s great to have the opportunity to play here at home once again because I didn?t get to play my senior night. This is the best feeling I?ve had in a long time. I didn?t sleep at all last night. I was up until 9 a.m. and finally passed out because I was so tired. It?s been a long week and we?ve been working hard.? On Cincinnati ? |
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Craig Pykett, Sr. Defender ? ?This is like a dream come true. It?s the first year we?ve ever received an at-large bid and to face a team like Cincinnati is almost too good to be true. I can?t wait until Saturday playing at home in front of our crowd.? |
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Brook Pearse, Sr. Forward ? ?It is incredible to be here. It was the greatest thing to see that we made it first of all and to find out we?re playing at home is wonderful. For a senior it is very special. My friends and family will be here and it will be great for our program. The first round is the most critical in the tournament and I?m glad we?ll be at home for that.? |
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Daniel Ferriter, Jr. Forward ? ?I think we are definitely going to make an impact in the tournament. We?re excited about it and we?re preparing for the best. I think Cincinnati is a good program and anyone we play in the postseason is going to be a strong team. We are going to be prepared to play them at our best and it will be good to play them here on a Saturday night. We expect to have a booming crowd behind us.? |
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Riley O?Neill, Fr. Forward ? ?I?m looking forward to playing again, especially in the NCAA Tournament at home.? On being named MAC Newcomer of the Year ? |
Richard Morton, Jr. Midfielder ? ?This is absolutely wonderful for the team. We?ve worked so hard this whole season and I think we really deserve this. When we heard the announcement the feeling was better than anything I could have expected. Playing at home is an added bonus. It?s amazing to be in the tournament and that is first and foremost.?
Steven McLay, Sr. Defender ? ?Getting a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament is the reason I came here. I?m relieved that we have this chance. I?m proud of the boys and I?m proud to be here. Cincinnati is a tough team so we have to go out and prove that we deserve our bid.?
Peter McLellan, Jr. Midfielder ? ?It is a real exciting time for everyone involved in our program. Personally, it is what I came here to do. It was a disappointment losing in the semifinal of the MAC, but it?s great to have this opportunity to play again. I?m anxious to see how far we can go in the tournament.
On this past week?s training ?
?Last week was very difficult training-wise. The ?Gaffer? wasn?t happy and rightly so. I was a little worried about getting in, but obviously we?ve played solid soccer to this point to be given this opportunity.?
Christopher Lefferts, Jr. Midfielder ? ?I was really excited when it happened. I just hope we can win some games and keep advancing in the tournament. We?ve worked hard the whole season and I feel really refreshed. We trained really hard last week and I?m glad to know that we trained for something. I think we should do pretty well in the tournament.?
