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LEXINGTON ? Freshman Michael Strong saw the first action of his collegiate career on Sunday afternoon and netted the game-winning goal in the 49th minute for Kentucky in a 2-1 victory over Winthrop in the UK Invitational at the UK Soccer Complex.
The win improved Kentucky to 4-2-1 on the year and extended its unbeaten streak to five. The Wildcats also have a home unbeaten streak of eight games dating back to last year. Winthrop fell to 2-3 after dropping a pair of 2-1 decisions in the tournament.
Strong, a San Antonio, Texas, native, had not played in Kentucky?s first six contests before entering midway through the first half. He provided a spark of the bench by putting two shots on goal including the winner, which was created by a hustle play.
?I thought Michael Strong was outstanding. He really showed his pace playing in his first game,? said Kentucky coach Ian Collins.
Pressing forward as the Winthrop defense played the ball back to goalkeeper Steve Winton, Strong rushed Winton as he tried to clear it. Leaping right as Winton made contact from the edge of the box, Strong blocked the attempted clear and the ball rebounded directly into the goal.
?I haven?t gotten much playing time so far, so I just came on and tried to work hard,? said Strong. ?I saw the defender play a weak ball back so I sprinted after it and I jumped and turned and went off me for the goal.?
The goal gave Kentucky its first come-from-behind win since the 2002 season. The Wildcats had been 0-8-1 since then when allowing the opponent to score first.
?I thought our guys gave a good effort,? said Collins. ?We?re going through some growing pains, but we got a win and that?s what is important.?
Winthrop?s goal came on a counterattack in the eighth minute when Kevin Green served a perfect ball into the box from the left flank. Sean Weron, streaking toward the back post, greeted it perfectly with a header that beat Kentucky goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.
?I thought we came out a little flat,? said Collins. ?I thought we?d have a little more energy and we?d be more up for the day. But we made some changes pretty quickly and the guys who came in did a terrific job.?
Jamal Shteiwi answered in the 20th minute for the Wildcats with a tremendous goal. He took a feed on the left edge of the box and eluded an Eagle defender before blasting a shot past Winton for the equalizer.
?Jamal was once again outstanding,? Collins said. ?He scored a great goal and he, once again, provided the leadership that we need.?
The goal was the sixth for Shteiwi in as many games. The six goals this year have already surpassed his total of five from a year ago.
Kentucky clearly controlled the first half of play despite only netting the one goal. The Wildcats held a 6-2 shot advantage at the break and finished with 14 shots to just seven for Winthrop. In the opening frame, Kentucky produced at least a dozen scoring opportunities, but, outside of Shteiwi?s goal, were unable to finish them.
The second half was a physical one with 16 combined fouls and six cards passed out. The Wildcats continued to apply pressure as evidence by their eight shots and six corners in the half. Strong had what would have been a second goal cleared off the goal line by a Winthrop defender midway through the stanza.
Shteiwi, Strong and Nathan Li, who assisted on Shteiwi?s goal, each earned All-Tournament team honors.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday when it hosts Mid-America Conference foe Marshall at the UK Soccer Complex. The Wildcats seven-match MAC winning streak will be on the line.
