LEXINGTON ? Riley O?Neill tallied the sixth hat trick in school history as the Kentucky men?s soccer team turned in a dominating performance with a 3-0 win over Florida Atlantic in its season opener on Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
It was apparent all game long that this is a different Wildcat team than last year?s that won only six games. O?Neill was a man among boys up front, getting off seven shots and scoring three times. He also banged one shot off the crossbar and another off the post.
O?Neill was the lone striker for UK and benefited from outstanding play in the midfield by the Wildcats. Freshman Jase Griffiths assisted on the first goal, playing a beautiful ball through the back line that O?Neill won and scored off of in the 15th minute.
Just over nine minutes later, junior Michael D?Agostino, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, served in a low cross that O?Neill put a diving header on for his second goal.
The five-man midfield kept the pressure off the defense for most of the game. However, when called upon, the back line stepped up to earn freshman keeper Dan Williams a clean sheet in his UK debut. He faced only four shots and needed a lone save for the shutout.
O?Neill secured the rare hat trick in the 63rd minute with a moment of individual brilliance. After winning the ball at the top of the 18, he juggled it around the defender to himself and his volley found the net. He couldn?t believe his chance at the fourth goal in the 79th minute was foiled by the woodwork, grabbing his head in disbelief. He was taken off the field moments later with the game well out of reach.
Griffiths and Williams were two of three freshman starters as Barry Rice also began the contest as a center back.
In a physical game, UK racked 21 fouls and a pair of yellow cards to D?Agostino and sophomore Brad Frederick, who started at left midfield.
Kentucky outshot the Owls 13-4 and put eight of their offerings on goal as well as O?Neill?s two that careened off a post.
The Wildcats return to action against Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Phoenix proved to be dangerous offensively in a 3-2 win over IUPUI in Friday?s opening game of the UK Invitational. IUPUI and Florida Atlantic meet Saturday at 5 p.m.
