LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team kicks off its Conference USA season on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. when it hosts sixth-ranked South Carolina.

The game is the second of a doubleheader at the UK Soccer Complex as the women?s team battles Alabama at Noon.

Kentucky (7-2-1) is coming off a heartbreaking loss at No. 14 Indiana on Wednesday. The Hoosiers broke a scoreless tie with a golden goal in the 94th minute after UK had a man sent off with 13 minutes remaining in regulation.

The loss was the second of the year for the Wildcats, both coming in overtime to Big Ten foes. Despite that, UK enters conference play with more non-conference wins this year than wins it totaled a year ago.

Last year, the Wildcats finished seventh in their inaugural season in Conference USA with a 3-4-2 mark. Included in that was a 2-2-1 home record. This year, UK is 6-1 on its home pitch.

The defense continues to be rock solid, posting a stellar 0.48 goals against average while blanking six opponents. Freshman goalkeeper Dan Williams has made 29 saves, including six in the loss to the Hoosiers.

Offensively, Riley O?Neill continues to be one of the nation?s most dangerous players. He was held without a goal for just the third time in 10 games on Wednesday, but still has 11 scores on the year.

South Carolina has risen to No. 6 nationally on the strength of a 9-1 overall record, including a 2-0 mark in league play. The Gamecocks only loss this year came in the season opener when it fell to fifth-ranked Clemson.

In two meetings last year, USC escaped both. Though clearly outplayed in Columbia in the regular season, South Carolina scored a 1-0 win by finding the net with its only shot on goal. Then in the C-USA Tournament, the Wildcats and Gamecocks, which eventually won the event, battled to a scoreless draw before USC advanced on penalty kicks.