LEXINGTON, Ky. — After a 2006 season that ended with a school-best No. 13 national ranking and a second-place finish in Conference USA, the UK men?s soccer team have now received votes in three of the four major college soccer polls, the most recent being released by the Soccer Times, with the Wildcats collecting ten votes.

Two of UK?s 2007 opponents are ranked in the top 25 of each of the preseason polls, including Indiana and SMU. Kentucky also participated in an exhibition match against another ranked team, West Virginia, this past weekend, but play was suspended early into the second half due to severe weather and the Mountaineers up 1-0.

A year ago, Kentucky was paced by one of the more prolific offenses in school history, netting 44 goals, including a school-record 17 from senior striker Riley O?Neill. The Wildcats were also strengthened by a stout defense, ranking 23rd nationally in goals against average (0.78) Last season, UK knocked off No. 6 South Carolina in thrilling fashion, courtesy of a Riley O?Neill goal in double overtime.

Earlier in the preseason, the team was also recognized in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and College Soccer News polls.

The UK men?s team opens its season this weekend in the annual UK Invitational against Cornell on Fri. Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET, and then plays again Sunday Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. versus UNC-Asheville. Other games for the invitational match IUPUI and UNC-Asheville on Friday at 5 p.m., and IUPUI and Cornell on Sunday at noon.