LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team renews one of its biggest rivalries on Wednesday when it travels to No. 14 Indiana for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Wildcats and Hoosiers met every year from 1994-2004 before scheduling issues forced the two off each other?s schedule a year ago. During the series, the seven-time national champion Hoosiers have been the standard by which UK measures itself.
Despite holding a 1-12-1 all-time record against Indiana, Kentucky has more than proven itself against the perennial powerhouse. Since 1999, six of the seven meetings have been decided by one goal, or not decided at all by ending in a tie. Four have gone to double overtime, including a 0-0 tie the last time the two teams met in 2004.
The rivalry is also the backdrop of perhaps the most heartbreaking loss in UK history. In the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, Kentucky broke out to a 1-0 lead on Riley O?Neill?s goal in the 26th minute. However, Indiana found the equalizer with just a minute left in the first half.
After the two teams battled to no effect in the second half, the Hoosiers tallied the game winner in the 106th minute, as the Wildcats played a man down. Indiana would go on to win the national title without being challenged nearly as much as that evening. It was the second time IU?s route to the national championship went through a grueling double-overtime game against UK.
As a senior, O?Neill is back for his final shot at the Hoosiers. He currently ranks second in the nation in scoring with 11 goals and has paced a Wildcat offense pouring in better than three goals per game. He?s been aided by a stellar midfield that can attack from all angles with dangerous midfielders Jase Griffiths, Michael D?Agostino, Masumi Turnbull and Brad Frederick. All four have registered two goals while Griffiths and Turnbull are tied for the team lead with five assists.
Meanwhile, the defensive, featuring two freshmen in the back four and a freshman keeper, has been exceptionally stingy with a 0.43 goals-against average. In nine games this year, UK has shutout six opponents.
The game is the final outing for Kentucky in non-conference play. The Wildcats open Conference USA action on Sunday when they host No. 6 South Carolina. The rough stretch continues the next week as UK travels to No. 1 SMU.
