LEXINGTON ? Sophomore Anthony Peters and junior Brandon Stewart each scored to lead Kentucky to a 2-1 victory over Mid-America Conference for Marshall on Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
The Wildcats (5-2-1, 2-0 MAC) extended their unbeaten streak to seven games and have now won eight straight in conference play. Kentucky is also unbeaten in its last nine games at home, which ties the school record. It was the fourth win for the Wildcats over Marshall (3-4, 0-1 MAC) in five years.
Peters, who now has two goals and three assists in his last five games, scored a tremendous goal in the 36th minute on a header from eight yards out. Riley O?Neill played a perfect cross from deep in the right corner and Peters outjumped a Herd defender to put it past Joe Nebel for a 1-0 lead.
?It was a great goal on a beautiful passing sequence,? said Collins. ?Riley had a great service and Anthony had a great finish. I thought it was a great goal. Guys were in the right spot and Anthony buried it.
Stewart, streaking across the middle of the box, flicked a header past Nebel off Jamal Shteiwi?s free kick from near mid-field in the 61st minute. It was Stewart?s first goal of the season and Shteiwi?s third assist.
Kentucky dominated the beginning of the game, putting five shots on goal in the first 20 minutes and allowing just a single shot from Marshall in the opening frame. The Wildcats finished with a 21-8 shot advantage overall and had seven corners to just three for the Herd.
?The first 35 minutes, we were on fire,? said Collins. ?We probably should have been up four or five goals. We?ve got to finish our chances better. After it was 2-0, we had five or six clear opportunities. We?ve got to finish.?
However, Marshall made it interesting late. Wildcat goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was called for pushing off on a jump ball in the box in the 86th minute and the Herd was awarded a penalty kick. Firas Al-Samarrie put the kick away to cut the Kentucky lead in half.
?I give Marshall credit, they didn?t quit. They stuck in there and the last five or six minutes were very tough,? Collins said. ?There was no need for the penalty and they kept at it. I give them credit, but we?ve to put the game away.?
The goal ended the Wildcat?s shutout streak in conference play at 718 minutes, 26 seconds. Kentucky had last allowed a league goal to Akron in 2002.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex when it hosts Ohio State. The Wildcats can break the school record for the longest home unbeaten streak in the contest.
